Guyana Times - Monday, April 29, 2024

to recoup “all mobilisation” fees from T&T company

Employee shot during robbery at Cevon’s Ruimveldt office

Adriver attached to the Cevon Waste Management is now hospitalised after he was shot during a robbery at the company’s Aubrey Barker Road, South Ruimveldt, Georgetown office.

Injured is 33-year-old Berthony Cadeau. Based on reports received, on Saturday, another employee, 31-yearold Ruth Chase was in the office paying salaries to other employees, when two males wearing masks entered the building.

One of the suspects drew a firearm from his waist and discharged two rounds, one of which struck Cadeau.

The suspects then relieved Chase of a cellphone without a sim valued at $200,000 and an undisclosed sum of cash, property of Cevon Waste Management. The suspects then exited the building and escaped on a black motorcycle.

The matter was promptly reported to the police and the scene was visited by detectives who found two .32 spent shells and a warhead.

The injured man was taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation where he was admitted a patient. His condition is regarded as stable. Investigations are ongoing.

This is the second time in less than three years that the company has been robbed of its finances. In October 2021, its head office was broken into by seven identifiable men who carted off two cell phones and a vault containing an undisclosed amount of cash, police said.

Two male guards, 56 and 64 years old, had told police that they were approached by two of the men, who were armed with guns. The guards said the glass was shattered and they were taken inside and tied with duct tape before the men stole the phones and the vault.

Investigations later revealed that the 56-year-old guard was at his post in a

guard hut in front of the building, when he was approached from behind by two of the suspects who were armed with handguns and one said “Don’t move or we gon kill you”.

They reportedly then held him at gunpoint and took him to the back of the building where the other victim was and he was also held at

gunpoint. Two other suspects then joined and jumped the fence after which the glass door to the building was broken and the victims were taken into the building where they were tied up with duct tape.

Three other suspects joined the four and relieved the victims of their belong-

ings, including the vault that was inside the building.

The suspects then exited the building and made good their escape leaving the victims tied who later managed to untie themselves and raise an alarm, the Guyana Police Force said. It is unclear if anyone was arrested in connection with the incident.

Decomposed body of unidentified male washes up at Hope Beach

The badly decomposed body of an unidentified man washed up at Hope Beach, East Coast Demerara on Sunday.

This discovery was made at about 11:30h by a mangrove ranger, who immediately contacted the police.

At the scene, the body

of a male clad in a cream and black striped jersey and cream underwear was seen lying motionless, facing up in an advanced state of decomposition.

The body was examined but due to its present state, detectives could not confirm if there were any marks of violence.

The body was then taken to Memorial Gardens Mortuary, awaiting identification and post-mortem. Several persons in the vicinity were questioned but no useful information was obtained. Investigations are ongoing.

Cevon’s Waste Management at Mandela Avenue

Injured: Berthony Cadeau

BRIDGE OPENINGS

The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Monday, April 29 – 22:00h-23:30h and Tuesday, April 30 –22:30h-00:00h.

Monday, April 29 –07:10h-08:40h and Tuesday, April 30 – 08:15h-09:45h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Parika and Supenaam departure times – 05:00h, 10:00h-12:00h, 16:00h, 18:30h daily.

WEATHER TODAY

Thundery showers are expected to prevail throughout the day and at night. Temperatures should range between 24 degrees Celsius and 31 degrees Celsius.

Winds: North-Easterly to Easterly between 1.78 metres and 4.47 metres.

High Tide: 07:38h and 20:24h reaching maximum heights of 2.45 metres and 2.23 metres.

Low Tide: 13:50h reaching a minimum height of 0.78 metre.

Record-setting deep-water developments in Guyana are some of best in history – Exxon’s CEO

...says

projects were delivered safely, ahead of schedule

& below budget

Guyana is presently the most prolific, per capita, oil producer in the world and according to ExxonMobil Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Darren Woods, the country could be one of the very best in the history of oil and gas since oil was first drilled in the 19th century.

Woods made these comments during a recent interview on CNBC, where he was asked to comment on the current arbitration challenge launched by Exxon, following its Stabroek Block partner Hess attempting to sell its share to Chevron. Woods noted the benefits of oil exploration and production in Guyana, in highlighting why Chevron would want to buy into the block.

“If you look at Guyana and the development there, I think it will go down as one of the best deep-water developments in the history of the industry. So, a lot of value has been created through the hard work of the part-

He also illustrated the great things the partnership has been able to achieve in the Stabroek Block and noted that Exxon is merely seeking to protect its partnership rights.

“I think a great example of the capabilities of this organisation and each of the different sectors coming together, our operations, our project, coming together and

ble. And very safely raise the production, to the point where we are running those three ships, production units, at a rate higher than we made the investment decision at.”

Expressing pride in these accomplishments, Woods also pointed out that they have three more Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) ships in

ners, but specifically with our engineering and projects organisation,” Woods said.

Be that as it may, Woods reinforced that based on the partnership agreement between Exxon and Hess, his company is supposed to have first rights to any buyout.

making these things possible. And deliver these projects at an industry-leading pace, ahead of schedule, below budget.”

“When we bring them on, the operation team starts optimising and we tend to reset what we think is possi-

the works… a reference to the ONE GUYANA, Errea Wittu and Jaguar FPSO’s being built for the next three developments.

“We’re extremely proud of that. Plus, we have three more in the works, that we feel extremely proud about.

So, this is a tremendous example of what the organisation is capable of doing,” Woods said.

The Stabroek Block is 6.6 million acres (26,800 square kilometres). Exxon, through its local subsidiary Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL), holds 45 per cent interest in the block. Hess Guyana Exploration Ltd. holds 30 per cent interest, and CNOOC Petroleum Guyana Limited, a wholly-owned subsidiary of CNOOC Limited, holds the remaining 25 per cent interest.

ExxonMobil has said it anticipates at least six projects offshore Guyana, including the Whiptail project, will be online by 2027. Production has already started on the Liza Phase 1 and 2 projects, as well as the third development, Payara. Yellowtail and Uaru, Exxon’s fourth and fifth developments, have already received governmental approval.

Only recently, the Whiptail Development project also received approval from the government. Whiptail is expected to add approximately 250,000 barrels of daily capacity by the end of 2027, when it is slated to come on stream, thus bringing the country’s production capacity up to approximately 1.3 million barrels per day. The multi-billion-dollar Whiptail project, which is expected to last for at least 20 years, would include up to 10 drill centres with 48 production and injection wells.

Currently, the combined Payara and Liza Phase One and Two projects are producing over 550,000 barrels of oil per day. Additionally, these projects are expected to reach over 600,000 barrels per day later this year, with the Payara project itself expected to reach 220,000 barrels in the first quarter of 2024.

Exxon Chairman and CEO Darren Woods

Editor: Tusika Martin

News Hotline: 231-8063 Editorial: 231-0544, 223-7230, 223-7231, 225-7761

Marketing: 231-8064 Accounts: 225-6707

Mailing address: Queens Atlantic Industrial Estate Industrial Site, Ruimveldt, Georgetown

Email: news@guyanatimesgy.com, marketing@guyanatimesgy.com

Stabilising the sugar industry

The PPP/C had committed to reopening the estates that were unilaterally shuttered by the APNU/AFC Government and upon assuming office on August 2, 2020 immediately “put their money where their mouth was”. Rose Hall is up and running, and steps have already been initiated to reopen Skeldon Estate. Wales is well on its way to being the centre of our upstream Oil & Gas industrialisation thrust while Enmore has benefited from the increased development on the East Coast Demerara (ECD) corridor. But if the plan to make the sugar industry profitable once again is to be successful, there first will have to be a plan. A holistic one, that looks in a hardnosed fashion at where the industry is, where the Board of Directors want it to be, and most importantly, exactly what they expect the management team to do to get from here to there.

Towards that end, we offer some suggestions. First of all, we believe that the sugar plantations can be made viable within a regime that more clearly articulates the de facto change in strategy from a sugar industry to a sugarcane industry. The change is more than semantic. At the most mundane level, it stresses the fact that all the touted end products – sugar (bulk and packaged; raw and refined); electricity; alcohol; ethanol; paper; etc – depend on sugar cane being supplied and, therefore, its production must be given the central role in any future strategy.

One area that has to be looked at is the recruitment practices for field management: Field Manager; Senior Field Manager and assistant field mgr. (harvesting); asst. field mgr. (crop husbandry); asst. field mgr. (mechanical tillage); Agri. Superintendent (Agronomist); asst. field mgr. (cultivation); field workshop superintendent; field superintendent; supervisors (one for each gang); field foremen and charge-hands. Recently, GuySuCo has had great difficulty in recruiting and retaining managers from the field superintendent level and upwards.

This will remain a problem if upper management continues to insist on “book qualifications” being the main criteria for recruitment. These individuals retain the ingrained West Indian aversion to being connected to manual labour and basically see themselves “catching their hand” until they locate greener (white-collar) pastures. They avoid the fields like the plague. The focus ought to shift towards promoting individuals upwards from the supervisors’ category, who started as ordinary workers and who will more likely remain for the status conferred by the positions. They ought to be trained in the use of the now available hand-held computerised devices that allow the complicated flow of field operations to be monitored and evaluated daily.

In addition to the above-mentioned product mix from sugar cane, we suggest that the production of biogas be made standard at all sugar factories. Molasses and bagasse are not the only waste products in the production of sugar from sugar cane – the wash and press mud are extremely rich in methane or bio-gas – which can be extracted and bottled for commercial sale or for providing fuel to the fleet of vehicles used in sugar cane cultivation. The vehicles would have to be slightly modified.

The generation of electricity from bagasse ought to be seen not simply as a subsidiary operation from the production of sugar, but as an economic enterprise on its own merits. Mauritius embarked on this road since the mid-eighties and most of its factories now have co-generation capabilities that provide 44 per cent (or 750 Gigawatt hours (GWh)) of electricity to their grid of which 21 per cent (or 360 GWh) is from bagasse. For the Berbice plantations, the co-generation potential would be augmented if the four factories in Berbice consolidated their co-generation plants. If power generation is evaluated from its own capabilities, some of the Type III lands in Uitvlugt in Demerara that give such poor yields for sugar cane could be converted into fuel cane that is not only hardier but generates more fibre and thus more energy in power generation. Unlike the sugar cane, the fuel cane can also be harvested in sub-optimum weather since sunlight to maximise sucrose content is not a factor: the number of available days in the wetter Demerara plantations could then be increased, lowering unit costs.

A successful 32nd Congress of the People’s Progressive Party is assured

Dear Editor,

On the weekend (May 3rd to May 5th) the People’s Progressive Party is having its most important event through its 32nd Congress at the Authur Chung Conference Centre, Liliendaal, Region 4.

This Congress would be under the theme “Strengthen the Party, Defend Guyana, Unite Our People for Progress and Prosperity”, very applicable at this time since Venezuela’s unjustifiable claim to the Essequibo and building a “One Guyana” Platform for the 2025 Elections.

This Congress would take the leadership (Central Committee and Executive Members) into the next General Election in 2025, on a stronger bearing because of the excellent work that the Government has been doing over the last three- and onehalf years, after taking office in August 2020.

The Party continues its intensive preparations and logistical arrangements for the delegates and observers drawn from all ten (10) of the Administrative Regions of Guyana and several overseas groups will be gracing the activity.

The Congress will provide for a comprehensive

overview of the Party’s performance since the last Congress and outline a strategic direction in keeping with the Party’s Programme and Guyana’s present social, political and economic development.

The Delegates and Observers will examine the Government’s stewardship of the country so far as against the dismal performance of the APNU+AFC from 2015 to 2020, initiate discussions and make recommendations to the Party on the way forward. Emphasis will be placed on strengthening the Party’s structure and unity as the PPP seeks to provide sound, consistent, steady and reliable leadership and to continue to work towards improving the quality of lives of all Guyanese.

The Central Congress Committee is chaired by the present PPP’s Executive Secretary, Zulfikar Mustapha. This body meets weekly as the momentum intensifies and reports regularly to the Executive Committee of the Party. Party groups across the country prepared motions and resolutions, initiated fundraising activities, and identified delegates, observers and nominees to contest the elections to the Central

Committee of the Party.

The Highlight of this Congress, as were others, will be the Central Committee’s Report to be presented by the Party’s General Secretary, Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo, addressed by His Excellency, Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali and elections of Candidates to the Central Committee of the PPP.

As with most of the Congresses of recent times, the Party would be honouring and offering an appreciative gesture and recognition and appreciation to those who would have diligently served the Party for more than 20 years. Perhaps the most watched part of the event, though, will be the election of Party Leaders who would make up the 35-member Central Committee.

The Election for Central Committee Members would be an amiably competitive process where the elected leaders would no doubt be committed, efficient and effective, a hallmark of PPP Leadership.

An essential principle governing the activities of the Party is that of criticism and self-criticism. The proper application leads to a correct identification of our shortcomings, our mistakes

and the real source of error, thus making it simpler for correction. It should be noted that criticism is the identification of errors and drawing attention to whoever is at fault, whereas self-criticism is the acceptance of one’s own mistake, with a willingness to correct the same.

The 31st Congress

The 31st Congress was historic in the sense that it was held during a period when the People’s Progressive Party was in the Opposition. The last Congress was held in the Cinderella County of Essequibo at Anna Regina, on December 17 to December 19. The importance of this Congress was to strategise, regroup and prepare the Party for Local Government (2018) and the General Election (which took place in 2020)

The Party came out with flying colours at both the Local Government Elections (2018) and General and Regional Elections (2020) which proved that the 31st Congress had a positive impact on the success that the Party and Government enjoyed.

The JC Chandisingh Achievers team was on Sunday adjudged the winners of the Human Services and Social Security’s inaugural Men’s Curry Competition held at the Giftland Parking Lot. In photo, subject Minister, Dr Vindhya Persaud hands over the grand prize to the winning team

Demerara Bank Ltd to expand regionally with St Lucia branch

– approval already granted by Eastern Caribbean Central Bank

Earlier this month, President Dr. Irfaan Ali revealed that a local bank was in the process of establishing a regional footprint. It turns out that the bank in question is Demerara Bank Limited.

According to the bank's 2023 Annual Report, a subsidiary of the indigenous Guyanese bank will be established in St. Lucia. The report indicated that the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank (ECCB) has already approved the bank’s establishment on the island.

“The board of directors approved the establishment of a subsidiary in St. Lucia as part of the bank's broader expansion plans. This coincides with the bank's strategic plan which includes the expansion of our services and diversification of our busi -

ness,” the report states.

During the second Local Content Summit 2024, President Ali spoke of the need for banks in Guyana to evolve their attitudes and way of thinking. It was at this point that he revealed the indigenous bank that was expanding its footprint.

“The bank has to see itself as a facilitating role in the development and expansion of the economy.

And make investments to facilitate the deployment of capital to make use of these opportunities. And to do this, the bank must not only have a local look at things, but a regional look.”

“Now there's one regional bank that became very successful in and also outside the region, operating in Guyana, by deploying a more reasonable approach. There's one bank

in Guyana now that's in the process of establishing a regional footprint by going into a different country,” President Ali had said.

Further, the head of state had noted that many regional opportunities are waiting for not just local businesses, but banks, to tap into. He had stressed the importance of businesses positioning themselves.

“If we are building the capacity of companies here, what is the market we are targeting? Is it only building that capacity and scale and capability for the local market?” the President questioned.

“Or do we now look at this capacity and scale your building locally and find regional opportunities through which we can apply this capacity and expand the economic and fi -

nancial opportunity for the local businesses? And that is where we have to position ourselves.”

Demerara Bank has received much recognition for its willingness to collaborate with the state to expand access to capital in targeted industries.

Back in 2022, Demerara Bank Limited collaborated with the Guyana Government to set up a $900 million revolving fund that was aimed at boosting the forestry sector to meet market demands by providing capital to those involved in the sector.

According to the details of the arrangement, some $300 million from the State’s coffers was to go towards this revolving fund. This sum was to be further supplemented by $600 million more provided by Demerara Bank Limited.

It had been explained that this $900 million revolving fund would carry a low-interest rate of four per cent.

President Ali had also announced, through a partnership with the Guyana Forestry Commission under the Ministry of Natural Resources, that a committee would be established to ensure that persons are adhering to and abiding by what is expected of them, that is, the sector itself and its various associations.

Another Demerara Bank initiative was the Farmers Credit Line programme, which the bank also launched in 2022 to provide much-needed financing to farmers, mostly those along the coast.

The loan ranged from $1 million to $1.5 million with a low-interest rate and did not require any collateral from applicants.

Guyana should be a major exporter of potable water

Dear Editor, I was heartened when the president made the statement of Guyana becoming a major exporter of clean, fresh drinking water. It is a grand idea which should come to fruition seeing we are a country that is blessed with a superabundance of fresh water.

Guyana is positioned in The Equatorial Region and precisely so in the tropical rainforest zone, it is ideally located to receive quadrillions of litres of fresh water from the skies. Guyana is also one of six countries that form The Guiana

Shield or "The Greenhouse of the Earth," one that hosts an ecosystem that holds 20% of the world's freshwater, so there is wisdom in the thought expounded by the president. Our discussion now takes us to the next point, that is, the nature of the rocks beneath the surface.

Lying beneath the coastal plain is a huge band of rocks called aquifers, these are rocks that form a line where rainfall water from the surface has infiltrated the ground. It fills the spaces between the sediments and cracks in the

rock which further enhances its water-holding capacity.

In addition to this, that groundwater reservoir is constantly filled by precipitation, as the water seeps downwards into it. Groundwater at this stage is filtered by a natural filtration process.

A natural reservoir of groundwater called an artesian basin is now formed beneath the coastal plain.

Like the Murray Darling Plains of Australia, large borings can be made into the aquifer and water flows naturally from the ground,

this is potable water at its best. However, and this goes for those of us who hail from the countryside, there is a high ferrous oxide (rust) content in that water, which quickly oxidizes when exposed to the surface. It stains clothing, cups and pans, and gives that unsightly appearance to all household utensils.

Hence, a call for a filtration process to rid the water of its iron and aluminium contents, as well as to purify it from the accumulated pollutants gathered by that water on its way downwards. Purified arte -

A successful 32nd Congress of the ...

The astute leadership of the General Secretary, Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo, who was elected by the Central Committee after the 31st Congress was of paramount importance to the Party’s many successes. His brilliance and strategic knowledge will continue to be an asset to the People’s Progressive Party. His leadership qualities and skills make him politically savvy to continue leading the Party unconditionally.

The 1st Congress

The People’s Progressive Party’s 1st Congress was held on March 31 and April 1, 1951, just over seventy-three (73) years ago. The Party Constitution which was adopted in 1951 was later amended at the 6th Congress in 1958 and the

8th Congress in 1960. The Party Constitution was completely rewritten at the 20th Congress, the same that the Party functions with presently.

Those days the Party was organised locally into constituency committees, based on the geographical electoral constituencies. The membership fee was then sixty cents yearly. The General Council consisted of the Chairman, First Vice Chairman, Second Vice Chairman, and the Leader with status like the Chairman, the General Secretary, Asst. General Secretary, Organising Secretary and Treasurer along with fourteen other members.

The highlights of the 1st Congress were, the agenda that included presentations by Dr. Cheddi Jagan,

Ashton Chase, Rudy Luck and Sydney King followed by the ratification of the Party Constitution, the nomination of Office Bearers and General Council, Report of the General Secretary, motions and questions from members, installation of new Office Bearers and the outline of the Party’s Programme for 1951.

Party History

The PPP was founded on January 1, 1950, as a merger of the British Guiana Labour Party led by Forbes Burnham and the Political Affairs Committee led by Dr. Cheddi Jagan, and was the first mass party in the country. The People's Progressive Party was formally launched with Dr. Jagan as Leader, Linden Forbes Sampson Burnham as Chairman and Janet Jagan as Secretary.

The first headquarters of the Party was at Dr. Jagan's Dental Surgery at Charlotte Street, Georgetown. The first issue of the Party's organ, the Thunder, was published to coincide with the Party's launching. The first Congress of the Party was held on April 1, 1951, at which time the Party's constitution was adopted.

It was a multi-ethnic party supported by workers and intellectuals. At the Third Congress of the Party, Burnham made an unsuccessful bid to become Party Leader. The party went on to win the 1953 elections, taking 18 of the 24 elected seats in the House of Assembly, resulting in Jagan becoming Chief Minister.

Sincerely,

JAGNARINE SOMWAR

sian water is amongst the best drinking water on the planet and Guyana is truly blessed, doubly blessed with another renewable resource.

Finally, in the rich underground tapestry of nature, lies a renewable resource that our coun-

try can maximise its use. Diversification is in the air, and the production of crystal clear, potable, artesian water, is an economically viable option; why wait, let's seise the day.

Respectfully, Neil Adams

(Sign on) Inspiration Time

Grand Designs

Paternity Court

Divorce Court

Indian Movie - Bawaal (2023)

Spongebob Squarepants

Indian Soaps

Mighty Med S1 E9

Kickin' It S1 E13

Sign off

Page Foundation

TAssessment (NGSA) exams are scheduled for Thursday, May 2 and Friday, May 3; here are some tips to make sure you make the best of the exams.

Although, the best way to ensure that you’ll get the grade you want is to understand the material thoroughly, good test-taking skills can help make the difference between a top grade and an average one. They can also help reduce stress and relieve test-taking anxiety.

The tips for test taking below are divided into two categories: six things you can do to prepare for your exam and seven things you should do once the test begins. We hope these test-taking tips will help you succeed!

Here are the six best things you can do, beside cultivating good study habits, to make sure you are prepared for your test.

1. Don’t “cram”

It might seem like a good idea to spend hours memorising the material you need the night before the test.

In fact, cramming for a test is highly counterproductive. Not only are you less likely to retain the information you need, cramming also increases stress, negatively impacts sleep, and decreases your overall preparedness.

So avoid the temptation to stay up late reviewing your notes. Last-minute cramming is far less likely to improve your grade than getting a good night’s sleep.

2. Gather materials the night before

Before going to bed (early, so you get a good night’s sleep), gather everything you need for the test and have it ready to go.

Having everything ready the night before will help you feel more confident and will minimise stress on the morning of the test. And it will give you a few extra minutes to sleep and eat a healthy breakfast.

3. Get a good night’s sleep

And speaking of sleep… showing up to your test well-rested is one of the best things you can do to succeed on test day.

Why should you make sleep a priority? A good night’s sleep will help you think more clearly during the test. It will also make it easier to cope with test-taking stress and anxiety. Moreover, excellent sleep habits have been shown to consolidate memory and improve academic performance, as well as reduce the risk of depression and other mental health disorders.

4. Eat a healthy breakfast

Like sleeping, eating is an important part of self-care and test-taking preparation. After all, it’s hard to think clearly if your stomach is grumbling.

As tough as it can be to eat when you’re nervous or rushing out the door, plan time in your morning on test day to eat a healthy breakfast.

A mix of complex carbohydrates and healthy protein will keep you feeling full without making you feel sluggish. Whole wheat cereal or bread or tennis rolls, eggs, oatmeal, fruits, and nuts may be great choices (depending on your personal dietary needs and preferences). It’s best to avoid foods that are high in sugar, as they can give you a rush of energy that will wear off quickly, leaving you feeling tired.

And don’t forget to drink plenty of water. If possible, bring a bottle of water with you on test day.

5. Arrive early

Arriving early for a test can help decrease stress. And it allows you to get into a positive state of mind before the test starts.

Take your seat as soon as possible. Organise your materials so they are readily available when you need them. Make sure you are physically comfortable (as much as possible).

By settling in early, you

are giving yourself time to get organised, relaxed, and mentally ready for the test to begin. Maximising the time you have in the test classroom –even if it’s just a couple of minutes –can help you feel more comfortable, settled, and focused before the test begins.

6. Develop positive rituals

Don’t underestimate the importance of confidence and a positive mindset in test preparation.

Positive rituals can help combat negative thinking, test anxiety, and lack of focus that can easily undermine your success on test day. Plan some extra time to go for a short walk or listen to your favourite music. Engage in simple breathing exercises. Visualise yourself succeeding on the test.

Your rituals can be totally unique to you. The important thing is having a calming habit that will boost your confidence, attitude, and concentration when the test begins.

Test-taking tips for success

You have gotten a good night’s sleep, eaten a healthy breakfast, arrived early, and done your positive test-day ritual. You are ready to start the test!

Different types of tests require different test-taking strategies. You may not want to approach a Maths test the same way you would an essay test, for example. And some computerised tests require you to work through the test in a specific way.

However, there are some general test-taking strategies that will improve your chances of getting the grade you want.

1. Listen to the INSTRUCTIONS

Once the test is front of you, it’s tempting to block everything out so you can get started right away.

Doing so, however, could cause you to miss out on critical information about the test itself.

The teacher or proctor may offer details about the structure of the test, time limita-

tions, grading techniques, or other items that could impact your approach. They may also point out steps that you are likely to miss or other tips to help improve your chances of success.

So be sure to pay close attention to their instructions before you get started.

2. Read the entire test

If possible, look over the entire test quickly before you get started. Doing so will help you understand the structure of the test and identify areas that may need more or less time.

Once you read over the test, you can plan out how you want to approach each section of the test to ensure that you can complete the entire test within the allotted time.

3. Do a “brain dump”

For certain types of tests, remembering facts, data, or formulas is key. For these tests, it can be helpful to take a few minutes to write down all the information you need on a scrap paper before you get started.

Putting that important information on paper can relieve stress and help you focus on the test questions without worrying about your ability to recall the facts.

4. Answer the questions you know first

When possible, especially for multiple-choice tests, do a first pass through the test to answer the “easy” questions or the ones you know right away. When you come to a question that you can’t answer (relatively) quickly, skip it on this first pass.

Don’t rush through this first pass, but do be mindful of time – you’ll want to leave yourself enough time to go back and answer the questions you skipped.

*It’s important to remember that this technique is not possible on some tests. Essaytype and sequential tests do not allow you to skip ques-

tions and return to them later. On these types of tests, you will need to work through each problem in order instead of skipping around.

5. Answer the questions you skipped

Once you’ve done a first pass, you now have to go back and answer the questions you skipped.

In the best-case scenario, you might find some of these questions aren’t as challenging as you thought at first. Your mind is warmed up and you are fully engaged and focused at this point in the test. And answering the questions you know easily may have reminded you of the details you need for these questions.

Of course you may still struggle with some of the questions, and that’s okay. Hopefully doing a first pass somewhat quickly allows you to take your time with the more-challenging questions.

6. Be sure the test is complete

Once you think you’ve answered all the questions, double check to make sure you didn’t miss any. Check for additional questions on the back of the paper, for instance, or other places that you might have missed or not noticed during your initial readthrough.

A common question is whether you should skip questions that you can’t answer. It’s not possible to answer that question in a general sense: it depends on the specific test and the test rules. It may also depend on the value of each individual question.

But, for the NGSA, it is better to put something down than nothing.

7. Check your work

Finally, if you have time left, go back through the test and check your answers. Read over short answer and essay questions to check for typos, points you may have missed, or better ways to phrase your answers. If there

were multiple components to the question, make sure you answered all of them. Double check your answers on Maths questions in case you made a small error that impacts the final answer. You don’t want to overthink answers, but a doublecheck can help you find – and correct – obvious mistakes.

Ways to cope with test-taking anxiety

Nearly every student gets nervous before a test at some point, especially if the exam is an important one. If you are lucky, your pre-test nervousness is mild and can be mitigated by these test-taking tips.

A mild case of nerves can even be somewhat beneficial (if uncomfortable); the surge of adrenaline at the root of a nervous feeling can keep you focused and energised.

For some students, however, test taking anxiety – a form of performance anxiety – can be debilitating and overwhelming. This level of anxiety can be extremely difficult to cope with.

However, there are a few things you can do before and during a test to help cope with more severe stress and anxiety:

Take a meditation or sitting stretch break

Take a minute or two before or even during a test to focus on your breathing, relax tense muscles, do a quick positive visualisation, or stretch your limbs. The calming effect can be beneficial and worth a few minutes of test time.

Replace negative thoughts with positive ones

Recognise when your brain is caught in a cycle of negative thinking and turn negative thoughts into positive ones. For example, when you catch yourself saying “I’m going to fail”, force yourself to say “I’m going to succeed” instead. (Adapted from summer. harvard.edu)

WORD SEARCH

Deadline for completion of Schoonord-toCrane Highway now set for “mid-year” – Croal

...says additional workforce brought in to speed up construction

The completion of the highly-anticipated multi-billion-dollar four-lane highway project from Schoonord to Crane in Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara) has now been shifted to “midyear,” according to Housing and Water Minister Collin Croal.

“[We’re expecting the highway to be completed] by middle of this year; in fact, even before… For sure, it will finish at least by May monthend,” the minister told the Guyana Times on Sunday.

In September 2022, some $11.8 billion in contracts were signed for the construction of the Schoonord-toCrane four-lane highway – a project that is part of a much larger initiative to establish a secondary road link to Parika, East Bank Essequibo (EBE).

The works included two roundabouts, 11 reinforced concrete box culverts, 36 pre-stressed bridges, and road signage and markings. The project was awarded to eight contractors – VR Construction Inc., Avinash Contracting & Scrap Metal Inc., L’Heureuse Construction and Services Inc., GuyAmerica Construction Inc., AJM Enterprise, Vals Construction, Puran Bros Disposal Inc., and JS Guyana Inc.

All contractors were required to finish their respective projects by October 25, 2023. However, after massive delays, they were given

extensions.

Currently, the entire project is about 70 per cent completed. In a recent interview with the Department of Public Information (DPI), Minister Croal explained that work in most of the lots has progressed well except one that is behind schedule.

He had noted that one of the lots has already been completed while the completion rate in most of the lots ranges between 80 to 90 per cent.

“We have one lot that is a little behind and we have engaged the contractor. That contractor has also brought others on board to have it completed by May monthend… So, it's just that one lot that is behind and the completion of the roundabout [at the Crane end of the highway],” Croal indicated to this newspaper.

Only back in March, President Dr. Irfaan Ali con-

ducted a site visit to check on the progress of the massive road project and ordered that liquidated damages be sought from the contractors over the delayed works.

“That’s the contractor’s obligation [for extensions] …Y’all gotta make sure you charge for liquidated damages. There is no excuse. So, from day one as soon as [the contract] expires, I want liquidated damages,” the President had informed the technical team from the Housing Ministry that is overseeing the project.

Asked whether such damages were sought from the constructors, the Housing Minister was unable to say when contacted on Sunday.

This four-lane highway from Schoonord to Crane will be a modern road with features that will allow for easy and free flow of traffic at both ends.

This corridor is one of the major transformative projects being undertaken in Region Three and will be connected, at Schoonord, to the new bridge across the Demerara River that is also currently under construction. With the highway to be eventually extended to Parika, it will open up new lands for housing and commercial developments in the region as well.

In Budget 2024, the Government earmarked $9 billion to advance works on the Schoonord-to-Crane highway.

Meanwhile, the Guyana Government in recent

months has been clamping down on contractors over delays in executing public projects.

Earlier this month, President Ali had ordered that penalties such as liquidated damages outlined in several government contracts be enforced for companies that continue to default on their contractual obligations.

Liquidated damages refer to a provision allowing for the payment of a specified sum in the case of a breach of contract. In this case, the President says the government will go after those defaulting contractors that have gone past their project deadlines and the justifiable extensions.

Consequently, units are now being established at the

various ministries and state agencies to assess the performance of contractors carrying out government projects. Additionally, a Contract Compliance Unit has been established at the Attorney General's Chambers to support the work of those units.

President Ali had noted that all project managers and senior engineers under this unit will be properly qualified.

Attorney General Anil Nandlall, SC, has disclosed that scholarships will be offered to at least 50 officers in these units to better equip them with monitoring and evaluating capabilities.

Additionally, the Guyana Online Academy of Learning (GOAL) administration has been asked to offer courses in the areas of contract

management, contract monitoring and contract evaluation. These programmes will come from the International Federation of Consulting Engineers (FIDIC).

“Fifty current officers within the government structure will be offered scholarships – 50 one time. And they would be spread across the sectors. In almost every sector, we will select persons including lawyers from the Legal Affairs Ministry… All of that is to enhance the government’s ability and the government’s capacity to monitor, evaluate and enforce these contracts for the betterment of the people of Guyana,” the AG had noted.

Nandlall also assured that there will be no additional burden on the treasury to undertake these efforts.

Works ongoing on the Schoonord-to-Crane Highway

Housing and Water Minister, Collin Croal

Construction workers remanded for El Dorado Village robbery

Two construction workers from El Dorado Village, West Coast Berbice (WCB), were remanded to prison on Friday in connection with a robbery which took place on Wednesday.

Carl Rowland, 18, and Shaquan Bentick,20, appeared before Magistrate Ravindra Mohabir at Weldaad Magistrates’ Court where they were jointly arraigned with 'Burglary'. They were not required to enter a plea and were denied bail.

Police said the incident was committed on a 37-yearold woman from El Dorado Village, WCB.

After the robbery, police went to the men’s shared res-

idence and recovered several items including five cellphones, one Nintendo game, three packs of powdered milk, a Vita Malt, a smartwatch, two yellow metal chains, one earpiece, an Asus laptop, and $52,320 cash.

All the items were suspected to be stolen. When confronted, the men could not explain how they obtained the mentioned items. As a result, the items were confiscated, documented, and lodged at the police station.

They were both arrested and placed into custody at the Fort Wellington Police Station and were subsequently charged.

The move…

…that googlied the PNC

Everyone knows Prezzie’s a cricket tragic – a fella who’s besotted with the game and not just a fan who follows players. Didn’t he just take time out from his extraordinarily hectic domestic and international political schedule to weigh in on what he thinks ought to be the future of WI Cricket?? Wearing his Caricom Chairman’s hat at the opening ceremony of the Caricom Regional Cricket Conference, Pres Ali revealed he’s working with the West Indies Cricket Board, CPL and the ICC, to develop a new cricket product for the region – the World Premier League!!

With a deep cricket knowledge going back to his childhood in Leguan, Prezzie had to’ve known he was bowling a political googly at the PNC when he made that seemingly impromptu walkabout in Brooklyn!! A googly, or "wrong'un", is a delivery which looks like a normal legbreak but actually turns towards the batsmen, like an offbreak, rather than away from the bat. Unlike a normal legbreak, a googly’s delivered out of the back of the hand, with the wrist flat to the ground. The batsman literally doesn’t know where the ball’s coming from!!

Considered as their stomping grounds ‘cause most Afro-Guyanese gravitated – and still gravitate – there when they go to the Big Apple, the PNC and their flunkies never expected that Ali would receive the kind of reception that he did!! Hadn’t they mobilised in the Churches and streets for the last decade with intensifying gusto to support the cause “back home” – to oust the “illegally-installed PPP regime”?? Yet Brooklyn dropped into the President’s hands like an overripe Buxton Spice mango that just needed a slight shake to make it fall!!

But the tsunamic effects of Prezzie’s unassuming and human connection – which showed he was dealing with folks as GUYANESE rather than pawns of ethnic politics –are still reverberating in the homeland – to the chagrin of the PNC. And it’s all because their toadies just don’t know when to stop!! Rather than pretend that nothing happened to their support in foreign, the Brooklyn PNC Brigade launched a BOYCOTT of the businesses that welcomed the gregarious President of their country!!

Can you believe that?? Well, a heck of folks who’re either IN the PNC or favourable to them still can’t get over the hubris that assumes ALL Afro-Guyanese must HATE the Head of State!! Most significantly, one of the more visible rising stars who’s been a fierce critic of the PPP in the PAC took to the letters column to declare: “Boycotting Guyanese businesses – “we own” people – in a foreign land is just plain stupid. How is that going to achieve anything good?”

The PNC just couldn’t read Prezzie’s googly!!

…on the CPU

Who woulda thought that an esoteric thing – to most voters – like a computer CPU would become a cause célèbre in the increasingly heated contest for the PNC leadership? Poor PNC members and supporters – and your Eyewitness! – have been hitting their Google search button to find out what it’s all about. And he’s told that “The CPU’s also known as the “processor” and provides the instructions and processing power the computer needs to do its work.”

Now when your Eyewitness heard that the PNC computer with the names of the delegates to the Aug Congress to vote on who’s gonna be leading the troops in the 2025 war…oops! – elections! – he thought that someone was fiddling with the members’ names stored on the hard drive. Like how Burnham had fiddled with the names on the voters’ list for years!!

But to mess with the CPU means someone in authority might actually be reprogramming the computer itself to produce “fixed” voting results at Congress!!

Like gaming voting machines!!

…with blackouts

Some might be wondering why Russia is concentrating on taking out Ukraine’s power-generating sites. Well, the Ruskies see blackouts as a war tactic – to make the frustrated citizens reject Zelenskiy’s Government.

And in Guyana?? Are blackouts sabotage??

Remanded: Carl Rowland

Remanded: Shaquan Bentick

The items that were found at the duo’s residence

M&CC removes vendors outside Demico House

More than two weeks after the High Court granted orders to remove vendors and their structures from outside Banks DIH’s Demico House, Stabroek, Georgetown, the Georgetown Mayor and City Council (GM&CC) on Sunday initiated the process.

The court orders, granted by Justice Navindra Singh earlier this month, came in response to an application filed by Banks DIH Limited, the parent company of Demico House. Attorney Reon Miller of the Boston

fiant, arguing that they had nowhere else to go and demanded a meeting with the Georgetown City Council to explore alternative locations for their businesses.

However, during the removal process at Demico Stabroek on Sunday, vendors voiced their frustration, emphasising that removing them, has disrupted their lives and that of the families they have to provide for.

One vendor related, “Where are we supposed to go? This is how we feed our families; this is how we make our daily bread. This

and Boston Law firm represented Banks DIH Limited in seeking these orders.

The orders directed senior City Council officials to clear the pavement and surroundings outside the popular restaurant of vendors and their stands, structures, and belongings.

Specifically, they were mandated the remove carts, drays, barrels, boxes, dustbins, tents, palettes, coolers, mobile stalls, and any other movable items obstructing the property.

Both the Town Clerk and the City Engineer, named as respondents, were present at the hearing but did not contest the orders.

City Mayor Alfred Mentore acknowledged the challenge and stated that the Council had to comply with the court's decision. He expressed the Council's long-standing intention to devise a comprehensive plan to address the vending situation permanently rather than resorting to temporary fixes.

Despite the court order, many vendors remained de-

is very hard, and will be very hard for some of us”.

Another vendor vented, “While we know it's their establishment, at least have some pity for innocent ones

even if it means that he has to go out with one case of drinks like before. “I will continue to vend… is like when I first started, I use to sell one case drinks at a time…”

He nevertheless stated that, Banks DIH has a right to approach the court to remove the vendors stating that it is an unpleasant site when his colleagues continue to dispose of garbage in front of the private property.

He added that while vending is illegal, the Georgetown Mayor and City Council should meet with the aggrieved vendors to have a more structural way of doing it.

Meanwhile, Banks DIH highlighted its occupancy of the property since the 1960s and lamented the worsening vending situation outside its premises, which had adversely affected business operations. The company cited financial losses and emphasised the need for the Council to address the issue promptly.

The court's decision set a precedent, with Muneshwers Limited securing similar orders last November. This legal development prompted the City Council to issue notices and later removed vendors and encumbrances from

like me who just want to sell to feed their family. I am a single parent and I have to do it all alone. I don’t know what is my next step right now, and what to do. I want to know the city council will put us”.

Another vendor insisted that he will continue to vend

pavements and streets surrounding various business premises.

Many longstanding businesses welcomed the judgment, hoping it would alleviate the challenges they faced due to street vending and obstruction of their properties.

The M&CC removing vendors from around Demico House

Guyana records 37% decline in workplace fatalities from 2020-2023

...deaths for 2024 significantly higher than previous years – Min Hamilton

Over the past four years, Guyana has seen a significant reduction in workplace fatalities but according to Labour Minister, Joseph Hamilton, more deaths were already recorded in 2024 when compared to the previous three years.

In 2020, there were 32 deaths followed by 27 in 2021, 21 in 2022 and 20 in 2023. The minister did not divulge any details for 2024.

Most of these accidents occurred in the mining, construction, agriculture and manufacturing sectors.

plained will require participation from the government and all stakeholders including the employers who will need to collaborate closely to develop, implement and maintain comprehensive strategies for safety and health protocols, adequate training for the enforcement of safety and health regulations, proper equipment maintenance and fostering a culture of safety among all stakeholders.

in a changing climate: We are running out of time,” the minister emphasised the urgent need to prioritise safety and health in workplaces with regards climate change.

“Climate Change is already having serious impacts on the world of work, and workers, particularly at risk, are those who work outdoors in physically demanding sectors such as agriculture, construction and mining, however indoor workers in hot and poorly ventilated environments, and other workers are also at risk.”

“Over three years, we have moved from 32 deaths in that area and now 20 deaths, that should not have happened… at least most of them in my view…Every death is a person, it’s not a statistic, somebody’s child, husband, father, set of people mourning and so for me, I don’t treat these as statistics and that is why we are doing everything possible to ensure that this can be reduced to zero,” Hamilton had previously stated.

A few days ago, 58-yearold Sherman Tang was pinned and killed by a falling tree at Quartz Stone Backdam, Cuyuni River, Region Seven.

Referring to Tang’s death, Hamilton stated “We need to act now” while emphasising the need for the implementation of protective measures to prevent workplace accidents.

“This situation causes me great concern and should be the same for our tripartite partners and key stakeholders. Indeed, it is quite obvious that we need to act now. Decisive actions need to be taken to prevent workplace accidents and safeguard the well-being of the workers in this beloved country of ours.”

This, the minister ex-

“Let us rise to the challenges and increase our efforts to create safer and healthier workplaces for all… together we can make a difference and build a future where every worker can go to work and return home safely at the end of the work day or work period.” Hamilton stated.

However, as Guyana observes Occupational Health and Safety Month 2024, under the theme “Ensuring safe and healthy work now

Several activities were planned in observance of Occupational Safety and Health Month including exhibitions, visits to workplaces including mining camps and others. The month culminated with an awareness walk on Sunday which saw hundreds joining the ministry in promoting and maintaining a safe working environment.

Labour Minister Joseph Hamilton and others at the walk on Sunday

Hess requests Stabroek Block shares dispute hearing for 3rd quarter of 2024

– Chevron CEO says outcome could be decided shortly after

Amid the ongoing dispute between oil giant ExxonMobil and Hess, over its decision to sell its shares to fellow United States (US) oil company Chevron, it turns out that Hess requested the Arbitration Panel to hear the case in the third quarter of this year.

This was revealed by Chevron Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Mike Wirth, during a recent first-quarter earnings call. He explained that while timelines on resolving the case and the eventual purchase

tle less defined at his point in terms of the specific scheduling. This will be established by the arbitration tribunal. In our (submission) we indicated that Hess has asked the tribunal to hear the merit of

of Hess’ shares are still unclear, efforts have at least been made to have the case heard and decided in the third and fourth quarter respectively.

“We have the arbitration, which I think is a lit -

the case in the third quarter, with an outcome in the fourth quarter. Which would allow us to close the transaction shortly thereafter.”

“We see no legitimate reason to delay that time -

line. It’s consistent with what Exxon has outlined they would expect. But can’t say that is exactly how it would unfold. We haven’t seen specific scheduling from the tribunal yet,” Wirth explained.

Back in October 2023, it was announced that Hess Corp. had agreed to merge with Chevron. This deal would allow Chevron to buy into Hess a 30 per cent stake in the oil-rich Stabroek Block, which is operated by ExxonMobil, which has the majority interest of 45 per cent while CNOOC holds the remaining 25 per cent stake.

But in March, ExxonMobil announced that it had filed a case in the International Chamber of Commerce to assert its right of first refusal over Hess’ interest offshore Guyana. While the Chevron/Hess merger could now be delayed

in light of Exxon’s arbitration, both Hess Corp and Chevron have for the large part remained confident of the US$53 billion deal going through.

An article published by Bloomberg last month indicated that while the deal may be delayed, Hess Corp. is confident its arguments would prevail in the arbitration case filed by Exxon. In a previous email to employees, Hess had said “We disagree with ExxonMobil’s interpretation of the agreement and are confident that our position will prevail in arbitration… There is no possible scenario in which Exxon or CNOOC could acquire Hess’ interest in Guyana as a result of the ChevronHess transaction.”

According to Bloomberg, this disclosure marks the first time either Hess or Chevron have said Exxon’s push to safeguard its preemption rights in Guyana could delay their merger, initially expected to close by the second half of this year.

It’s also the first time either company has been so explicit about their disagreement over how Exxon is interpreting its joint agreement with Hess and Chinese oil giant CNOOC Ltd. to produce oil off

the coast of the South American nation, according to the article.

“We’re confident that within this contract, we have pre-emption rights, and we have filed for arbitration to make sure that we can secure those pre-emption rights… The pre-emption rights are to allow us to look at the value, which we can then match should we choose to do so,” Exxon’s senior vice

president

said at the time, adding that arbitration of this nature typically takes “five to six months”.

Bloomberg had also said in its article that if Exxon succeeds in blocking the takeover, Hess would be required to pay Chevron a $1.7 billion break-up fee. However, both Hess and Chevron have declared their intention to see the deal through.

Neil Chapman had

Chevron CEO Mike Wirth

Govt launches malaria net distribution campaign in Reg 9

The Health Ministry on Friday launched the Malaria Mass Net Distribution Campaign in Aishalton Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) to reduce the transmission of malaria by providing a barrier against mosquitos that carry the disease.

The use of Long-Lasting Insecticide-Treated Nets (LLINs) is the major vector control strategy adopted in Guyana. The National Malaria Strategic Plan under Strategic Priority Number

Four has outlined one of its goals as the need to optimise the distribution and use of these treated nets in malaria-affected communities within Regions: 1, 7, 8, 9 & 10.

This will be achieved through mass free distributions to be held every three years in Guyana, an activity which will be supported by continuous net distributions through multiple channels.

This campaign focuses on the most vulnerable populations, those living and working in the mining areas where the risk of malaria is highest. It aims to ensure that every family, every child, and every individual has access to the protection they need.

During his featured address, subject minister Dr. Frank Anthony said, the ministry believes that with more effort, malaria will

soon be eliminated from the Regions of Guyana. He stated that over the past years, the ministry has made a lot of investments towards the elimination of infectious diseases such as filaria, leishmaniasis, chagas and leprosy by 2030.

"We have targeted these things and working in a very systematic way in making progress. We believe that we can remove the cases of malaria from Region Nine, with hopes of utilising this strategy in other Regions to remove malaria as a problem in Guyana."

He highlighted that the malaria rapid test kits are available for persons who

present with symptoms of malaria.

"If anyone tests positive for malaria, treatment is readily available. One initiative we have worked on through a programme with Breakthrough Action is the creation of an enveloped treatment package with clear instructions for using the medication."

He further stated that malaria can be prevented if everyone works towards eliminating mosquito breeding sites in surrounding areas and using malaria-treated nets correctly all the time.

"The Slogan says, ‘lil mosquito big problem’, but it doesn't have to be a big prob-

lem if we all work towards eliminating malaria. When this is done, we can say, no mosquitoes no problem", Dr. Anthony expressed.

Meanwhile, the United States Ambassador to

the malaria programme.

She assured those present, of the US Government's commitment to continued collaboration in supporting the health and well-being of communities within Guyana.

the importance of using these LLINs to prevent malaria", Ambassador Theriot said.

Moreover, the Health Systems and Services Advisor attached to PAHO Guyana Country Office,

A section of the residents at the launch

Guyana, Nicole Theriot, related that over the past seven years, USAID has provided more than US$5.2 million in technical assistance through

"We must ensure 80% bed net coverage in endemic communities like yours. We must expand access to information and increase awareness of

Daniel Albrecht stated that PAHO will continue to support Guyana's Malaria campaign to eradicate the mosquito-borne disease.

Duo nabbed after disposing of ammunition

Two men were arrested on Friday at Eldorado Village West Coast Berbice (WCB) after they were seen disposing of several rounds of ammunition.

Police stated that acting on information received, several officers went to the location where Ricardo Marshall, 23, of North East La Penitence, Georgetown, and Shaun George, 21, of Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown were seen.

During a search at the location, the police observed Marshall disposing of several small objects through a window.

As such, the duo was taken into the yard and upon combing the area, eight live rounds of 9MM

ammunition found. They were told of the offense committed, arrested, and escorted to the Fort Wellington Police Station. They are expected to be charged shortly.

Dr Anthony along with US Ambassador Nicole Theriot and health officials at the launch

Health Ministry, Dr Frank Anthony at the event

Prioritise vehicle maintenance ahead of rainy season – GPF urges drivers

With the rainy season looming, the Guyana Police Force’s Traffic Department is urging drivers across the nation to prioritise vehicle maintenance to ensure their safety on the roadways.

As heavy rains are anticipated to increase the risk of accidents and mechanical issues, the GPF emphasised the importance of proactive measures to enhance road safety.

Sergeant Delon Hilliman, a rank attached to the Traffic Department stationed at Vreed-en-hoop, West Coast Demerara (WCD) appeared during the recent televised programme, where he shared valuable insights on prepar-

ing vehicles for the challenges of inclement weather. He noted the importance of proactive vehicle upkeep,

especially with the unpredictable weather conditions ahead. The officer stressed that neglecting these aspects

Reg 3 Chamber of Commerce represented at business conference in Boa Vista

The Region Three Chamber of Commerce and Industry (R3CCI) recently participated in a strategic three-day international business conference held in Boa Vista, Brazil.

The Roraima-Caricom event, which also saw participation from regional counterparts including Barbados, Suriname, and Trinidad & Tobago, fostered vital cross-border relations and opportunities for growth.

scored.

could significantly increase the risk of accidents, endangering not only the driver but also other road users.

“There are vehicles on the road that are not properly maintained…drivers have to ensure that their wipers are working, ensure they do the basic tip of the morning which is to check your tyres, check your oil… we have some large vehicles in Guyana, and you wouldn’t want to be caught in between any of them. So, just make sure that your vehicles are maintained…”, he under-

Meanwhile, during the program's call-in segment, concerned citizens from across the country voiced various traffic-related issues. Overloading of buses emerged as a prominent concern, with callers expressing worries about the safety hazards posed by overcrowded vehicles.

However, the police rank assured listeners that the Traffic Department would intensify efforts to enforce regulations on passenger capacity, ensuring safer journeys for commuters. Additionally, callers lamented the presence of touts harassing passengers at minibus parks, creating an atmosphere of intimidation and discomfort.

Over the years, the problem of bus overloading and touting has persisted in Guyana, prompting calls for urgent action from various quarters. Eon Andrews, President of the United Minibus Union (UMU), has repeatedly urged the Traffic Department of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) to address the issue of overloaded

buses.

In an interview with Guyana Times, Andrews emphasised the unlawfulness of cramming passengers into buses beyond their seating capacity.

He stressed the importance of law enforcement in preventing such practices, stating, "The police, I am expecting to lock up these people… passengers should not agree to that. They cannot pack up these buses. They need to take this seriously." Andrews highlighted the lack of alternatives for many commuters who rely on public transportation and called for accountability from bus owners and relevant institutions.

Meanwhile, efforts to tackle touting at minibus parks have been underway, with the police pursuing arrests. In the most recent case, a significant crackdown resulted in the arrest and charging of 29 touts across the country. This ongoing initiative was aimed at restoring order and civility at bus parks by eliminating touting activities.

Linden businessman arrested for allegedly assaulting Police Officer

– video recording shows something else

ALinden, Region 10 (Upper DemeraraUpper Berbice) businessman was on Sunday arrested for allegedly assaulting a Police Officer.

This platform provided the body with a unique opportunity to directly engage with international businesses and explore potential partnerships.

During the event, members also had the privilege of attending the inaugural opening of the “International Hall of Tourism” at Garden Shopping.

This included guided technical tours and other business-related activities,

Led by its Vice President, Bhabita Albert, the delegation engaged in in-depth round-table discussions with various country representatives. These discussions were tailored to facilitate focused interaction and collaboration, highlighting sectors such as agriculture, construction, distribution, and services.

enhancing their understanding and connections within the international business community.

“The impact of this international meeting is expected to resonate through the various sectors represented by R3CCI, as members who participated were those who responded to the Chamber’s March 2024 call to action for the region’s construction businesses to collaborate,” the body stated in a release.

The release further stated that the initiative is part of ongoing efforts to empower local businesses by facilitating access to broader markets and international networks.

According to reports, at about 07:00h on the day in question, police visited the Tropical Reflections Bar located at Five Corner, McKenzie, Linden, and instructed the Disc Jockey (DJ) to turn off the music but he refused.

As such, he was arrested and taken to the Mackenzie Police Station but sometime later, the proprietor of the business visited the station to enquire about the DJ and the “disorderly behaviour”

Police stated that the businessman was asked to leave the station, and it is alleged that while leaving, he assaulted one of the police ranks, causing other ranks intervene and thus leading to his arrest.

Both the DJ and businessman were later re-

leased on self-bail and instructed to return to Mackenzie Police Station at 09:00h on Monday.

Meanwhile, a surfaced video clip on social media showed that there was a heated altercation between the businessman and a police officer. The footage captures a police officer punching and kicking the businessman while he was

on the ground.

Upon rising to his feet, the businessman attempted to confront the police officer but was restrained by other officers who intervened to prevent further escalation. In light of this incident, the Guyana Police Force's Office of Professional Responsibility has launched an investigation.

Eon Andrews, President of the United Minibus Union

Sergeant Delon Hilliman, Traffic Department, Vreed-en-Hoop

The confrontation between the officer and the rank at the Mackenzie Police Station

The Region 3 Chambers of Commerce at the business conference

Essequibo youth dies after crashing motorcycle into tree

Amotorcyclist lost his life in the wee hours of Sunday after crashing into a tree along Capoey Trail, Region Two (PomeroonSupenaam). Dead is 22-yearold Chris Ramchan of Tapakuma Lake, Essequibo Coast.

Based on reports reaching the Guyana Times, Ramchan and one of his brothers went to a fun day at Washiba Resort in Capoey and were heading home when the accident occurred at about 1:00h.

This publication understands that the two brothers were driving separate bikes and while coming out of the trail, Ramchan reportedly collided with a tree.

As a result of the collision, the young man fell off his motorcycle, CM 6457 causing him to sustain injuries.

The brother recounted that he was some distance behind Chris and could have seen the motorcycle’s tail lights but it suddenly disappeared. As he got closer, he saw his injured brother lying next to his motorcycle Ramchan was picked up and taken to the Suddie Public Hospital where he succumbed while being treated. An investigation is under-

way.

Ramchan’s death comes one day after Philbert Charles, 24, of Fellowship Village, Mahaicony, East Coast Demerara (ECD), and 20-year-old Chris Daniels, an auto-mechanic of Section C Block Y, Golden Grove, EBD dies after crashing their motorcycle along the Diamond Public Road, East Bank Demerara (ECD).

It was reported that the two men were proceeding south along the western drive lane of the Diamond Public Road at a fast rate when Charles lost control of the motorcycle and collided with a utility pole.

Both Charles and Daniels fell on the roadway in an unconscious condition with injuries sustained on their bodies. Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) were summoned to the scene, and the men were picked up

Several prohibited items confiscated during “Real All Black” event in Linden

The Guyana Police Force (GPF) managed to seise several prohibited items during the “Real All Black” event at Retrieve Hardcourt Ground, McKenzie, Linden, Region Ten (Upper DemeraraBerbice) on Saturday evening.

The haul included 213 lighters, 27 pairs of scissors, nine ski masks, six pen knives and one screwdriver. Patrons are advised that the Police will continue to carry out these searches at all events of this nature.

Back in January, a total of 100 pairs of scissors along with 2000 cigarette lighters, 50 small transparent Ziplock bags with marijuana, 50 joints (ganja) and

15 weapons were confiscated at the Guyana National Stadium (GNS), Providence, East Bank Demerara (EBD). The items were found on patrons who were attending the Flash Back Party. Later that month some 1,500 lighters, 50 scissors, 30 small transparent Ziplock bags containing cannabis, 16 ‘joints,’ 14 offensive weapons, a can of Baygon, and five cans of BOP spray were confiscated during the Armageddon DJ Clash which was also held at Providence.

Consequent to the search, several individuals were arrested on charges related to the possession of narcotics. These thorough searches were implemented two years ago after chaos erupted at the National Park during the “Baderation” Concert.

Gunshots were fired while dancehall artiste Skeng was performing.

Videos circulated on social media depicting the firing of gunshots during the

artiste’s performance, causing minor injuries from thrown glass bottles in the crowd. The Banks DIH bar at the event was also reportedly robbed, and one person was arrested for illegal possession of a gun.

Days after the concert, Minister of Home Affairs Robeson Benn, announced a ban on “artistes like Skeng” from performing at public events in Guyana. This decision followed public opinions suggesting that the artist may have influenced violent behaviour among partygoers at the concert.

Surprisingly, “Skeng” was one of the featured performers at the “Real All Black” on Saturday evening in Linden.

and taken to the Diamond Diagnostic Centre, where a doctor pronounced Charles

dead on arrival. Daniels was referred to the Georgetown Public Hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries while receiving treatment.

Dead: Chris Ramchan

The bike that Ramchan was riding when he met his demise

The prohibited items confiscated during the “Real All Black” event in Linden

Conversation Tree Road

Govt to recoup “all mobilisation” fees from T&T company – Min Edghill

The Guyana Government is forging ahead to recover all mobilisation fees paid to Trinidadian contractor, Kalco Guyana Incorporated, which failed to complete its portion of the work on the Conversation Tree to Dennis Street Road Expansion Project.

Public Works Minister, Juan Edghill, disclosed that this was one of the agreements coming out of the termination negotiations with the T&T company. He told the Guyana Times on Sunday that his ministry and the contractor have ironed out all the measures including payments and that the termination agreement is slated to be finalised in the coming weeks.

“In keeping with the terms and clauses of the contract, Kalco has agreed to exit the contract in a non-adversarial manner,” the Public Works Minister stated.

Edghill added, “Government will recoup every dollar for the mobilisation advances paid and Kalco will receive payments for all measured works done.”

Initially pegged at $1.8 billion, the Conversation Tree to Dennis Street Road project was split into two lots, with the first lot having

already been completed by S. Jagmohan Construction and General Supplies Inc.

However, the second phase, which was awarded to this Trinidadian company, has been stalled for several months now, and that contractor has been flagged on multiple occasions for poor performance.

Even though the initial project deadline was set on November 5, 2023, during an inspection conducted on March 4, 2024, it was indicated that Kalco had instructed its engineers to halt operations and no other work has been done since.

Consequently, the government had announced earlier this month that it is moving to terminate the $830 million contract with Kalco after the company “did not live up to expectations.”

Ministry subsequently activated the process to terminate the contract with the Trinidadian contractor.

On April 13, Minister Edghill and his team had a virtual meeting with the principals of the company to iron out the conditions of the termination. Negotiations had been ongoing since then and an agreement was reached between the two sides.

Earlier this month, President Dr. Irfaan Ali and a technical team inspected the uncompleted section of the road, and the Head of State instructed the team to find a way forward to complete the stalled works.

Following a meeting with the technical experts on April 13, the Public Works Minister had told this newspaper that several decisions were taken on going forward with the project including finding a new contractor to complete the road.

Asked on Sunday, whether there was any progress on that front, Edghill opted not to comment on this aspect since they are still streamlining everything.

and what it would cost coming out of this contract and giving it to somebody else –what is the extra cost and all the rest of it, because that is a contract that had been issued now two years ago… So, there are a number of things that have to happen. You don’t just take something from (one party) and give it to (another party), there is a process.”

want this remaining work to cost us. We have to make some decisions here,” the President had stated.

This move by the Government to end the contract with the Trinidadian company comes on the heels of efforts to clamp down on contractors that are lagging on projects being executed for the state.

Guyanese Leader also instructed that project updates for several ongoing works be completed for review, and according to Minister Edghill, work has been ongoing to fulfil the President’s order.

The project updates will be provided to the Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister Anil Nandlall, S.C., and letters of notice would be issued, while the Finance Ministry is tasked with calculating the liquidated damages.

Further, the Head of State disclosed that action must now be taken to strengthen project management teams in the public sector. Consequently, units are now being established at the various ministries and state agencies to assess the performances of contractors carrying out Government projects.

The Public Works

The minister had previously explained to this publication that, “…The project will be completed… [But] we have to determine what rates would be charged,

Dengue fever is an infectious disease. It can cause high fevers, headaches, rashes, and pain throughout the body.

Although dengue fever can be very painful, it's not usually fatal. Most people who get it start feeling better after several days, and fully recover in a few weeks.

Dengue fever is common in tropical and subtropical climates like Guyana.

When a mosquito bites a person who has dengue fever, the mosquito becomes infected with the virus that causes the disease. It can then spread the virus to other people by biting them.

Dengue fever is not contagious, so it can't spread di-

rectly from person to person. Since different viruses can cause dengue fever, someone can get the disease more than once.

Signs & symptoms of Dengue fever

Dengue fever used to be called "breakbone fever," which might give an idea of the severe bone and muscle pain it sometimes can cause. The fever isn't breaking any bones, but it can sometimes feel like it is.

Symptoms of dengue fever usually appear 4 to 14 days after someone has been infected. Some people infected with the virus won't have any symptoms. Others would have symptoms for 2 to 7 days before getting better. A person with dengue fever may notice:

High fever

• Pain behind the eyes and in the joints, muscles, and/or bones

Severe headache

Rash

• Bleeding from the nose or gums

• Bruising easily

Some people can get a more serious form of the infection called dengue hemorrhagic fever. They'll have the regular symptoms of

Nevertheless, as the technical team works on advancing the project, President Ali has ordered during his April 13 site visit that immediate drainage and irrigation works be done at the unfinished section of the road in the meantime, to avoid flooding in the event of heavy rains.

“We have to do some D&I work here because I don’t

HEALTH TIPS

DENGUE FEVER IN CHILDREN

Just at the beginning of this month, during a meeting with representatives of ministries and agencies responsible for awarding and monitoring Government contracts, President Ali had ordered that penalties outlined in several Government contracts be enforced for companies that continue to default on their contractual obligations.

At that meeting, the

Additionally, a Contract Compliance Unit has been established at the AG Chambers to support the work of those units. President Ali had noted that all project managers and senior engineers under this unit would be properly qualified and it was subsequently announced that 50 scholarships would be given to 50 officers from various fields to better monitor and evaluate projects. (G-8)

dengue fever for 2 to 7 days. After the fever goes down, they may notice these additional symptoms: Nausea and vomiting

Severe abdominal pain

• Difficulty breathing Severe bleeding

If dengue hemorrhagic fever is not treated right away, a person can have heavy bleeding and a drop in blood pressure, and could even die. People with dengue hemorrhagic fever need to be treated in a medical facility immediately.

When to call a doctor

If anyone thinks they or a family member might have dengue fever, they should call a doctor right away. A person should call a doctor if

they have developed symptoms of the infection after going to a region where dengue fever is occurring.

A doctor (or nurse practitioner) will examine you. He or she will ask questions about how you're feeling, a medical history, and any recent travels. Doctors might want you to give a blood sample to test for the disease. If you've been diagnosed with dengue, call your doctor or get to a hospital emergency room right away, if your symptoms get worse or if new symptoms appear, especially on the day the fever goes down, or on the next day.

Treatment

For mild cases, doctors usually recommend drinking plenty of fluids to avoid

dehydration, getting lots of rest, and taking acetaminophen to relieve the fever and pain. People with dengue shouldn't take medicines with aspirin or ibuprofen, which can make bleeding more likely.

Most cases of dengue fever will go away within a couple of weeks, and won't cause any long-term problems. However, dengue hemorrhagic fever requires treatment in a hospital with intravenous (IV) fluids and close monitoring. That's why it's important to call a doctor or go to the ER if symptoms are severe or get worse in the first day or two after the fever goes away. (That's when dengue hemorrhagic fever is most likely to develop.)

Prevention

The best way to protect from dengue fever is by avoiding mosquito bites. If you live in or plan to visit an area where there's dengue fever:

• Use screens on doors and windows. Repair broken or damaged screens quickly. Keep unscreened doors and windows shut. Wear long-sleeved shirts, long pants, shoes and socks when you go outside. Use mosquito netting over your bed at night. Use an insect repellent as directed. Choose one with DEET or oil of lemon eucalyptus.

• Limit the time you spend outside during the day, especially during the hours around dawn and dusk, when mosquitoes are most active.

Don't give mosquitoes any place to breed. They lay their eggs in water. So, get rid of standing water in things like wading pools and gutters. Change the water in birdbaths, dog bowls, and flower vases every few days. Because the infection is common in tropical and subtropical areas, take precautions when visiting those regions.

Dr. Tariq Jagnarine

Public Works Minister Juan Edghill

The uncompleted section of the Conversation Tree to Dennis Street Road Project

Wyclef Jean welcomes installation of Transitional Presidential Council

Haitian rapper Wyclef Jean is hopeful that the installation of a Transitional Presidential Council will help to “pivot the nation away from past destructive practices”.

In a post on his social media account X (formerly Twitter), the foreign-based musician said the Transitional Presidential Council, “offers an opportunity to finally listen to and address the needs of the Haitian population especially the most vulnerable”.

Haiti has been steeped in political turmoil and social unrest following the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse on July 7, 2021.

Rival gangs have overrun the poverty-stricken French-speaking country, plunging citizens into further despair and forcing several foreign agencies to remove non-essential staff from their offices in Haiti.

Following the installation of the Transitional Presidential Council on Thursday, interim Prime Minister Michel Patrick Boisvert said the country is at a crossroads and is searching for solutions to overcome the multidimensional political crisis.

In his post, Jean raised the concern that some of the members of the Transitional Council are believed to be contributors to the Haitian crisis, but hastened to add that the mere setting-up of the council was a step in the right direction.

“It is important to recognise that, while some elements of this alliance have been viewed as part of the problem, especially as the instigators and perpetrators of numerous violations that intensified systemic challenges, the establishment of the Council represents a significant stride toward filling the governance void,” Jean wrote.

He said the first step towards achieving the broader goal of implementing constitutional reform and holding fair and credible elections within the two-year mandate, is to stabilise the nation and deliver the “necessary aid to prevent a humanitarian catastrophe, where over 1.4 million people are at risk of starvation”.

Jean called for a thoughtful, inclusive approach to a solution that reflects the Haitian context, includes

representatives from all sectors of society and walks of life and fosters an environment that supports sustainable peace and development.

Jean, who failed in his attempt to become a presidential candidate in Haiti in 2010, pledged his commitment to contribute to the discussion “particularly on security issues and peace-building efforts, and work towards solutions that honour and protect the interests of all involved parties”.

Following the installation of a transitional council in Haiti, seven countries officially notified the UN Secretary General on Friday of their intention to contribute personnel to the Security Council-backed support mission for the crisis-wracked Caribbean nation.

The UN said Kenya has offered to lead the multinational mission that aims to provide much-needed backup to the National Police in a bid to regain control of the streets from gang rule.

The Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Benin, Chad and Jamaica also pledged their support, the UN said.

Meanwhile, the Council pledged on Saturday to vote for the country's next President on Tuesday as part of efforts to bring the Caribbean country under control.

(Excerpts from CMC and Reuters)

Chile's Boric declares national mourning period after 3 Police Officers killed

Three Police Officers were killed on Saturday in southern Chile during what President Gabriel Boric called a cowardly attack that led him to declare three days of national mourning.

The attack occurred in the municipality of Canete, in Arauco province, when the officers responded to three false emergency calls, authorities said.

The officers were attacked in their vehicle with heavy-calibre weapons and burnt, the authorities said. The region where the attack took place is home to long-running tensions between the State and the South American country's Mapuche Indigenous people.

"This morning we received the serious and painful news

of an attack in the province of Arauco, in which three Police Officers were killed. We coordinated immediate actions to respond to this cowardly attack," Boric said in a message via social media platform X, before travelling to where the attack took place.

"We will find the whereabouts of the perpetrators of this terrible crime," he said.

(Reuters)

UWI’s University Council appoints Dr Dodridge D Miller as 7th Chancellor

The Most Honourable Dodridge D Miller, FB, FCCA, MBA, LLM, LLD (Hon) has been appointed as the 7th Chancellor – the highest office-holder in the University of the West Indies (UWI) system.

Now formally Chancellor-Designate, Dr Miller is expected to serve a seven-year term beginning August 1,

2024.

He will succeed Robert Bermudez who has served as Chancellor since 2017.

At its virtual annual business meeting held on Friday, April 26, members of the University Council accepted the recommendation of the Chancellor’s Search Committee to appoint Dr Miller.

(Antigua Observer)

Barbados AG: Working on Caricom warrant law

The Barbados Government has started to put things in place to better facilitate any extradition of people from the island to neighbouring Caricom countries in the wake of the issue involving Brent Thomas two years ago.

Thomas, 61, a licensed gun dealer from the Trinidadian community of Maraval, was removed from

his room at the Courtyard By Marriott Hotel in Christ Church by members of the Barbados Police Service on October 5, 2022, before being sent packing back to Trinidad and Tobago.

A model law has now been drafted by Barbados’ Chief Parliamentary Counsel’s office to enact provisions to bring the Caricom Arrest Warrant Treaty into force and that

Bill has been circulated to all Caricom member states for their consideration, Attorney General Dale Marshall revealed to the Sunday Sun.

The Attorney General had already admitted that members of the Barbados Police Service had acted inappropriately in removing Thomas from his place of stay . (Excerpt from Nation News)

8-year-old Westmoreland boy dies in fire, mother in custody

AWestmoreland, Jamaica mother has been taken into custody after her eightyear-old son perished in a fire at their home in Top Lincoln, Grange Hill, Westmoreland on Friday night.

He has been identified as Ramiel Richardson, a

student of Peggy Barry Primary in the parish.

The Police said that about 23:40h, Richardson was alone in the house when it caught fire.

His mother, who was on the outside, raised an alarm. The fire department was also contacted, the Police said.

It is reported that after cooling down operations, the lifeless body of Richardson was seen on the ground.

The Police said his mother has been taken into custody pending further investigations.

(Jamaica Observer)

Jamaican author wins OCM Bocas prize for literature

Winner of the One Caribbean Media (OCM) Bocas Prize, Jamaican author Safiyah Sinclair said she was shocked at the announcement.

Her book How to Say Babylon: A Memoir won the overall 2024 OCM Bocas Prize for Caribbean Literature, which comes with a cash award of US$10,000, sponsored by One Caribbean Media.

Speaking at the award ceremony on Saturday at Esperenza Alta, St Ann's, Sinclair said she wrote the book for Caribbean women, and in hopes her father would hear her.

“Everything I write and feel and dream is for the Caribbean. I wrote How to Say Babylon for all the Caribbean women whose work and deeds so often go unseen and unsung, women who are overlooked and forgotten in the margins of history. I wrote this book for all the Caribbean who gave us

the wildfire of our dialects and our folklore.

“In many ways too, I wrote this book for my father and the rest of bredren like him who gave me the fire of my linguistic rebellion, to say what the I mean and mean what the I say. I wrote this in hopes that my father may understand me a little bit better, that he might finally hear me.

She said she also wrote the book for her siblings and in tribute to the place she grew up in.

“I wrote this book for my siblings, my sisters Ife and Shari, and my brother Lij. I’m so thankful for their strength, their laughter’ their hope, the sunlight we found somehow, somewhere, under the shadow of our circumstance.

“And I wrote this book for Montego Bay’ Jamaica, the red poinciana I was born under, the blue sound and music of my Caribbean sea.”

She congratulated her fellow competitors, Kevin Jared Hosein, who would have won

the fiction category with his book Hungry Ghosts, and Nicole Sealey, who won the poetry prize for her book The Ferguson Report: An Erasure.

She said she was thankful for the inspiration of writers who came before her, including Edwidge Danticat, Lorraine Goodison, Sylvia Wynter, Jamaica Kincaid, Dionne Brand, Canisia Lubrin, and Nicole Sealey.

“With you, with all of you, we continue to create this matriarchal language, and with you I'm leaving my small part of work.”

Sinclair had a message for her fellow Caribbean writers.

“I want to say, being born in someone else's idea of Paradise, we're often encouraged not to dream too far, not to think too big. But I think the very essence of being Caribbean is that when we're told what's impossible, we still reach for the sun anyway.”

Haitian rapper Wyclef Jean (CMC photo)

NGC Bocas Lit Fest fiction, non-fiction and poetry winners Kevin Jared, Safiya Sinclair and Nicole Sealey respectively, with their awards at the prize ceremony, Esperanza Alta, St Ann's on Saturday. Sinclair was the overall winner and received the OCM Bocas Prize for Caribbean Literature (Angelo Marcelle photo)

(Excerpt from Trinidad Newsday)

Dr Dodridge D Miller

TOIL NEWS

Sinopec challenges India's energy influence with new Sri Lankan refinery

he world’s biggest refiner, China Petroleum & Chemical Corporation, or Sinopec, is accelerating plans to build its first fully-owned refinery outside China.

Sinopec is set to complete a feasibility study in June to build one or two refineries in Sri Lanka as China looks to capitalise on its foreign investments. China Merchants Port Holdings has developed and operates the Hambantota port in Sri Lanka, an island very close to India.

Both China and India are vying to boost their energy presence in Sri Lanka to deliver fuel to the country, which has only one refinery built in the 1960s by Iran, capable of processing about 38,000 barrels per day (bpd).

Sinopec is now close to completing its feasibility study on whether to build a 160,000-bpd refinery or two 100,000-bpd facilities at the China-run Hambantota port, senior industry sources told Reuters this week.

The project in Sri Lanka is considered a top priority at Sinopec, according to the sources.

At the end of 2023, Sri Lanka’s Government approved a contract to Sinopec to enter into an agreement to establish a new petroleum refinery and associated product processing centre in Hambantota, Sri Lanka’s Minister of Power and Energy, Kanchana Wijesekera, said at the time.

Last month, Sinopec officials discussed the proposed new refinery and indicated that the Chinese giant had decided to double the capacity of the refinery from the original proposal and the investment. The Chinese firm intends to sign the agreements for the project and commence work by June 2024, the Sri Lankan Energy Minister said. Sinopec has discussed issues regarding water supply, power supply, and land allocation for the new refinery with the relevant authorities.

The refinery project in Sri Lanka is a move by the top Chinese and global refiner to secure more markets overseas.

new petrochemical complex to be integrated with the existing refinery.

If Sinopec’s project in Sri Lanka goes through, it would be the first fully-owned refinery of the refining giant abroad.

Sinopec already signed last year an agreement with the Board of Investment of Sri Lanka (BOI) to operate and set up fuel stations for distribution in Sri Lanka. The Chinese giant has invested US$100 million in the project, which includes the import, storage, and sale of fuel.

Sinopec and China will have to compete with India, which has also set its sights on boosting its energy relations and infrastructure links with Sri Lanka.

In February 2024, Sri Lanka’s Energy Minister discussed with executives of State-owned Indian Oil Corp (IOC) a proposal by the Indian Government through IOC for a multi-product oil pipeline connecting Nagapattinam in India with the Trincomalee Tank Farm on Sri Lanka’s east coast and Colombo.

India and Sri Lanka have made significant progress on the discussions and are looking to make an official arrangement or agreement on a potential pipeline “as soon as possible”, an anonymous Indian official directly aware of the talks told Reuters.

India is also involved in the construction of renewable energy plants, including a planned solar park, Sampur Ground Mount Solar Project, developed by a joint venture between NTPC of India and Sri Lanka. The project has progressed to the Request For Proposal (RFP) stage, and negotiations will begin for the power purchase agreement for the first phase of 50 megawatts (MW) of the 120 MW solar park once the RFP is evaluated.

(Excerpt from Oilprice.com)

Palestinian leader appeals to US to stop Israel's Rafah offensive

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas says the United States is the only country that can stop Israel from attacking Rafah, the southern Gaza city where more than a million people are taking refuge.

Abbas, who runs parts of the occupied West Bank, said any attack could see Palestinians flee Gaza.

Israel has consistently vowed to carry out an offensive in Rafah.

US President Joe Biden "reiterated his clear position" on Rafah to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in a call on Sunday.

The US has repeatedly said it cannot support a large-scale Israeli military operation in Rafah without seeing a credible plan to

keep civilians out of harm's way.

Speaking at the World Economic Forum (WEF) in the Saudi capital Riyadh earlier, Abbas – whose Palestinian Authority is not present in Gaza, which has been under Hamas rule since 2007 – urged the US to intervene.

"We appeal to the United

States of America to ask Israel to stop the Rafah operation, because America is the only country capable of preventing Israel from committing this crime," he said.

"What will happen in the coming few days is what Israel will do with attacking Rafah, because all the Palestinians from Gaza are gathered there."

He added that only a "small strike" on Rafah would force the Palestinian population to flee the Gaza strip.

"The biggest catastrophe in the Palestinian people's history would then happen."

PM Netanyahu has consistently vowed to carry out an offensive in Rafah as a next step in military actions against Hamas.

But on Saturday, Israel's Foreign Minister said Israel could suspend the incursion if there was a hostage deal.

Long-running talks mediated by Egypt and Qatar have largely stalled because of the gaps between the Israeli and Hamas positions, but on Sunday Hamas said it would send representatives to Cairo to give a response to the latest proposal. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Ukraine pulls back from 3 villages in east, Zelenskiy pleads for weapons

Ukraine's top commander said on Sunday Kyiv's outnumbered troops had fallen back to new positions west of three villages on the eastern front where Russia has concentrated significant forces in several locations.

The statement by Colonel General Oleksandr Syrskyi reflected Ukraine's deteriorating position in the east that Kyiv hopes it can stabilise once it takes delivery of US weapons under a US$61 billion aid package approved

this week.

"The situation at the front has worsened," Syrskyi wrote on the Telegram app, describing the "most difficult" areas as west of occupied Maryinka and northwest of Avdiivka, the town captured by Russian forces in February.

President Volodymyr Zelenskiy issued a fresh plea to international partners to speed arms deliveries so Kyiv could maintain its positions and disrupt Russian plans.

He said he spoke on Sunday with US House

Supporters of Spain's PM rally in Madrid to urge him not to quit

On the eve of Spanish

Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez's dramatic announcement about his future, thousands of Socialist Party supporters rallied in Madrid on Sunday to ask him to stay on after he stunned the country this week by saying he might quit.

Sanchez said on Wednesday he would step back "for a few days" to decide whether he wants to continue leading the Government after a court launched a corruption investigation into his wife's private dealings. He said this was part of a sus-

tained campaign of slander against him and his family by political opponents.

Sanchez denies the allegations made against his wife, Begona Gomez, and said he would announce his decision on his future today.

Carrying posters reading "Don't give in" and "For the love of democracy", about 5000 of Sanchez's supporters marched to the Spanish Parliament to urge the Prime Minister to stay, according to an estimate by the Spanish Government.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and "underscored that Patriot systems are needed, and as soon as possible".

Syrskyi said Kyiv's troops had taken up new positions west of the villages of Berdychi and Semenivka, both north of Avdiivka, and Novomykhailivka, further south near the town of Maryinka.

"In general, the enemy achieved certain tactical successes in these areas, but could not gain opera-

tional advantages," he said, adding that Russia had committed four brigades to the assault.

Freshly-rested Ukrainian brigades were being rotated in those areas to replace units that had suffered losses, he said.

His statement did not mention the status of Novobakhmutivka, another village near Berdychi, that Russia's Defence Ministry said on Sunday its forces had captured.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

Campus protests: Hundreds arrested at US universities as Gaza demonstrations continue

Hundreds more people were arrested at college campuses across the US on Saturday as student protests against the war in Gaza continue.

Green Party presidential candidate Jill Stein was among those detained by Police.

Protesters are demanding institutions boycott companies and individuals with ties to Israel.

But some Jewish students have complained about alleged antisemitism from some demonstrators.

A spokesperson for Stein said she was one of around 80 persons to have been arrested at Washington University in St Louis, Missouri. The Green Party presidential candidate was not currently believed to be facing charges, the spokesperson added.

California State Polytechnic became the latest to announce it would move to

remote teaching. The protests have seen in-person teaching cancelled and graduation ceremonies postponed.

Tents first appeared on the college green at Columbia on April 17. The protests then spread across the country after Police in riot gear were sent to clear the tents, arresting more than 100 students. Shortly after, students erected another protest camp at Yale University in Connecticut.

At Northeastern University in Boston, over 100 protesters were arrested for trespassing on Saturday by the Massachusetts State Police after refusing to clear their tents from college grounds, according to a Police statement. The camp was cleared by Police.

Other campuses, including Columbia and Emory University in Georgia, were reportedly quieter Saturday.

(Excerpt from BBC News)

Another major priority for Sinopec is a planned expansion of the Yanbu refinery with a petrochemicals complex in Saudi Arabia, where joint-venture partners Sinopec, Saudi Aramco, and SABIC are exploring the idea of adding a

PICKLES

PEANUTS

CALVIN AND HOBBES

(March 21-April 19)

(April 20-May 20)

(May 21-June 20)

(June 21-July 22)

(July 23-Aug. 22)

(Aug. 23-Sept. 22)

(Sept. 23-Oct. 23)

(Oct. 24-Nov. 22)

Too much force will prove discouraging. Kindness and understanding will encourage others to join your cause. Shrewd compromises will help you reach your goal.

Don’t put pressure on yourself when your energy is best reserved for what truly matters. Stand up for your beliefs and make a difference, but don’t jeopardize your physical well-being.

Confusion is apparent. Ask questions, take notes and leave nothing to chance. Don’t give away important information. Set boundaries, be smart and don’t take physical risks. Say less and do more.

Invest time and energy into something that matters to you. Separating yourself from the crowd will lead to unexpected opportunities and a connection to someone valuable.

Take a moment to make a plan. Rely on your intelligence to guide you in the right direction. Don’t expect others to take the same path as you, and don’t feel obligated to accommodate everyone.

Take a chance on life, love and happiness. Change what no longer works for you and make room for new beginnings. Immerse yourself in pastimes that inspire you. Put a plan in place and follow through.

Focus will be necessary if you intend to get anything done. Keep your emotions contained and your mind on your pursuits. Don’t waste time or money on gimmicks. Choose quality over quantity.

Flesh out the possibilities and sign up for excursions, courses or events that offer insight and opportunities to meet interesting people. Accept a challenge.

(Nov. 23-Dec. 21)

Don’t take what others say personally. Bad information is apparent; do your homework before agreeing to something. Listen to your inner voice and tread carefully.

(Dec. 22-Jan. 19)

Design your space to maximize efficiency. Action will have a more significant impact than anything you say. Refuse to let your emotions get in your way. Take a different route if necessary.

(Jan. 20-Feb. 19)

Focus on taking care of business before someone challenges you or interferes. Living up to your promises is essential. A financial gain is apparent if you are willing to go above and beyond.

Your enthusiasm will attract attention, and your discipline and diligence will encourage others to support you. A change you introduce will help speed things up.

Ruturaj and Deshpande star as CSK hand SRH a thumping

Call them conservative, but Chennai Super Kings successfully backed their method despite not being able to defend 210 in their previous home match against Lucknow Super Giants. The power-packed Sunrisers Hyderabad's

erplay, CSK looked like they were playing the same game again: lose the toss (their eighth lost toss in nine matches); lay a cautious platform; Captain Ruturaj Gaikwad scoring around about a hundred; Shivam Dube pushing them over

be repeated every night.

On Sunday, it wasn't repeated, after Tushar Deshpande rocked SRH with three wickets in the powerplay. Both Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma found the sweeper on the off side. The big win took CSK from sixth

drought in Chennai – they have never beaten CSK at Chepauk – continued as they fell short comprehensively despite batting in dewy conditions.

The slowest team in the first two overs and the third-slowest in the pow-

200... But then it changed in the second innings. CSK must have figured they had got done in by excessive dew, a special innings from Marcus Stoinis, and some ordinary fielding from themselves the other night, a combination of events that won't

SCOREBOARD

Chennai Super Kings (20 ovs maximum)

Ajinkya Rahane c Shahbaz Ahmed

b Kumar 9

Ruturaj Gaikwad (c)c Nitish Kumar Reddy b Natarajan 98

Daryl Mitchell c Nitish Kumar Reddy

b Unadkat 52

Shivam Dube not out 39

MS Dhoni †not out 5

Extras (b 1, lb 2, w 6) 9

TOTAL 20 Ov (RR: 10.60) 212/3

Did not bat: Moeen Ali, Ravindra Jadeja, Deepak Chahar, Tushar Deshpande, Mustafizur Rahman, Matheesha Pathirana

Fall of wickets: 1-19 (Ajinkya Rahane, 2.5 ov), 2-126 (Daryl Mitchell, 13.3 ov), 3-200 (Ruturaj Gaikwad, 19.2 ov) •

DRS

BOWLING O-M-R-W

Bhuvneshwar Kumar 4-0-38-1

Nitish Kumar Reddy 1-0-8-0

Shahbaz Ahmed 3-0-33-0

T Natarajan 4-0-43-1

Jaydev Unadkat 4-0-38-1

Pat Cummins 4-0-49-0

Sunrisers Hyderabad (T: 213 runs from 20 ovs)

Travis Head c Mitchell

b Deshpande 13

Abhishek Sharma c Mitchell

b Deshpande 15

Anmolpreet Singh c Ali

b Deshpande 0

Aiden Markram

Pathirana 32

Nitish Kumar Reddy c †Dhoni b Jadeja 15 Heinrich Klaasen †c Mitchell b Pathirana 20 Abdul Samad c sub (Sameer Rizvi) b Thakur 19

Shahbaz Ahmed c Mitchell

b Mustafizur Rahman 7 Pat Cummins (c) c Mitchell

b Deshpande 5 Bhuvneshwar Kumar not out 4 Jaydev Unadkat c Ali

b Mustafizur Rahman 1

Extras (nb 1, w 2) 3

TOTAL 18.5 Ov (RR: 7.11) 134

Fall of wickets: 1-21 (Travis Head, 1.5 ov), 2-21 (Anmolpreet Singh, 1.6 ov), 3-40 (Abhishek Sharma, 3.5 ov), 4-72 (Nitish Kumar Reddy, 8.5 ov), 5-85 (Aiden Markram, 10.5 ov), 6-117 (Heinrich Klaasen, 15.5 ov), 7-119 (Abdul Samad, 16.2 ov), 8-124 (Pat Cummins, 17.3 ov), 9-132 (Shahbaz Ahmed, 18.2 ov), 10-134 (Jaydev Unadkat, 18.5 ov) • DRS

BOWLING O-M-R-W

Deepak Chahar 3-0-22-0

Tushar Deshpande 3-0-27-4

Mustafizur Rahman 2.5-0-19-2

Ravindra Jadeja 4-0-22-1

Shardul Thakur 4-0-27-1

Matheesha Pathirana 2-0-17-2

to third on the points table, tied on points with SRH and LSG. SRH were left with questions around their chasing methods: they have lost only one when defending, but

thanks to expert gap-finding by Gaikwad. The first eight overs brought CSK just 67 runs, out of which Gaikwad scored 44 off 25 with seven fours.

The middle-overs press CSK went the first 10 overs of the last match without a six. Here, they hit the first at the start of the ninth over when Daryl Mitchell welcomed Pat Cummins to the bowling crease by off-driving a slower ball over mid-off. In the same over, Gaikwad repeated the dose to get to 51 off 27. CSK's other end, including extras, had

strike rate. The 19th over, bowled by Jaydev Unadkat, brought no boundary.

MS Dhoni came out for a customary 5 off 2, and Dube ended with a huge six, but the question remained: had CSK done the right thing by playing in identical fashion to the other night?

The Deshpande blitz

Unlike CSK, Head began with a boundary first ball and a six off the first ball of the next over. Abhishek matched him with a six off his own. Deshpande, though, came back with a wide slower ball, which Head could send only as far as the sweeper on

The finish

Dube continued his exceptional season despite good

won only one when chasing. Their run rate when chasing falls three points from their 11.74 in the first innings, and the average comes down from nearly 40 to 23.

Conservative Super Kings

The CSK openers made only one boundary attempt in the first two overs, and then gradually pushed up, largely

got just 31 off 27 till that point.

However, Mitchell joined the party now, and played a part in keeping CSK going even as Gaikwad managed just 10 off the next 10. In that period, Mitchell made his way to fifty off 29 before holing out to leave CSK at 126 for 3 in 13.3 overs.

defensive bowling from SRH. He ended up with 39 off 20, hitting four sixes and a four. Gaikwad found a second wind, taking 29 in 10 balls immediately after Mitchell's dismissal. Towards the end, though, he was gassed and kept mis-hitting everything. The mis-hits kept falling safe, bringing down his

the off side. Impact Player Anmolpreet Singh fell first ball with a leading edge to one that shaped away.

In his next over, Deshpande had Abhishek caught by the sweeper on the off side again. Abhishek and Head have not put up unbelievable numbers without taking fielders on, but they will be slightly disappointed they both found one of the only two men out.

The middle-overs squeeze

This is where CSK changed their fortunes as compared to the last match. LSG didn't let the CSK spinners bowl in the last match, especially with the dew. Here, Ravindra Jadeja got into his work. He conceded just one boundary in his four overs, bowling on the trot. He and Mustafizur Rahman managed to find just enough grip from the surface. A frustrated Nitish Reddy top-edged a short ball from Jadeja before Matheesha Pathirana broke the stump camera with a laser-guided middle-stump yorker to Aiden Markram.

CSK were right. There wasn't to be a repeat of a special chase as they closed out efficiently for a 78-run win. (ESPNcricinfo)

Tushar Deshpande finished with figures of 3-0-27-4

Ruturaj Gaikwad got to a 27-ball fifty with a six

Ruturaj Gaikwad and Daryl Mitchell put on a century stand

Shardul Thakur gets together with team-mates after dismissing Abdul

Jacks and Kohli ace RCB's 201-run chase in 16 overs against Titans

Royal Challengers

Bengaluru (RCB) overcame any vulnerabilities against spin in some style against Gujarat Titans, running down a target of 201 with nine wickets in hand and four overs to spare in Ahmedabad.

Virat Kohli's unbeaten 70 off 44 balls – 34 of them against spin – led the charge before a blitz from Will Jacks, who completed his maiden Indian Premier League (IPL) ton on the last ball, helped RCB home with four overs to spare.

RCB took 124 off the 11 overs of spin bowled by Rashid Khan (0 for 51); Noor Ahmad (0 for 43) and R Sai Kishore (1 for 30) as GT were hiding for cover on a surface that became conducive to strokeplay as the game progressed.

Jacks' late assault – he hit four fours and nine sixes in his last 17 balls – helped RCB ransack 58 off two overs when they needed 53

away, sweeping Maxwell over long-on for six before pulling a not-so-short one between long-on and deep midwicket for four. Shahrukh

Thereon, Shubman Gill and Sai Sudharsan merely consolidated. Their attempts to free the shackles did not bear fruit as they could manage only one four in the last three overs of the powerplay to finish on 42 for 1. Glenn Maxwell, back in the

off 36 balls, and in the process he brought up a 41-ball 100. It was an innings that changed speeds in a blink of an eye, and had Kohli gesturing that he missed only a bucket of popcorn and a cold drink from the best seat in the house to witness the Will-storm.

This was all after Gujarat Titans posted 200 for 3 on the back of an unbeaten 84 from B Sai Sudharsan and a 30-ball 58 from Shahrukh Khan. With the track assisting spin at the start of the game, it looked as if GT had enough on the board. Until it wasn't.

RCB's powerplay squeeze

Before the start of Sunday's fixtures, RCB had the second-worst economy rate in the powerplay, their 10.53 being only marginally better than Kolkata Knight Riders' 10.68. But against GT, the RCB bowlers were on the money, and it all started in the first over. Swapnil Singh, playing only his second game in IPL 2024,

XI for RCB, then preyed on Gill's quiet start to have him caught brilliantly at long-on in a diving effort by Cameron Green.

Sai Sudharsan and Shahrukh inject momentum At 45 for 2 in the seventh

was asked to be the disruptor and he essayed that role to perfection. He was severe on Karn Sharma, hitting him for two sixes in two overs, which put him out of the attack. He then hit Green for 4, 4, 6 to bring up a 24-ball fifty, his first in the IPL.

Shahrukh's carnage allowed Sai Sudharsan to change gears. He was on 18 off 16 when the powerplay ended, and on 32 off 23 at the 10-over mark. He attacked Karn's legspin before putting away an-almost-per-

over, GT decided to send in Shahrukh at number four and the move paid rich dividends. He got going straight-

fect yorker from Mohammed Siraj to bring up his half-century off 34 balls. Titans managed to score 106 in the mid-

dle overs (7 to 16), the most they have in the phase this season. In fact, GT scored 86 off just 45 balls through the time Shahrukh was in the middle.

Even after Shahrukh's dismissal – castled by a reverse-swinging full delivery from Siraj – Sai Sudharsan did not relent. In his next 15 balls, he scored 34 and was particularly severe on spin – a strike rate of 205 (41 off 20) as opposed to 153.57 (43 off 28) against the quicks. However, the 51 GT man-

aged at the death did seem a tad underwhelming.

Kohli spins it the RCB way Faf du Plessis targeted Azmatullah Omarzai in the third over of the chase, hitting him for 6, 6, 4 – a sequence that ended with a scoop over the wicketkeeper. But R Sai Kishore, introduced in the fourth over, managed to have him hole out to deep midwicket to break the opening stand. That did not deter Kohli, who lofted Rashid Khan over his head before hitting two sixes in two balls off Sai Kishore's next.

It looked like Sai Kishore had managed to deceive him in the flight, but Kohli's loft over wide long-off just evaded a leaping David Miller, before he firmly flicked the next one cleanly over wide long-on. He used the sweep to good effect, taking 22 off the shot in six attempts. Jacks was still only coming to grips with the surface and GT's spinners at the other end seemed to have little effect on Kohli, who slashed one through backward point to race away to a 32-ball fifty.

SCOREBOARD

Royal Challengers Bengaluru (T: 201 runs from 20 ovs)

Virat Kohli not out 70

Faf du Plessis (c) c sub (V Shankar)

b Sai Kishore 24

Will Jacks not out 100

Extras (b 4, lb 4, nb 1, w 3) 12

TOTAL 16 Ov (RR: 12.87) 206/1

Did not bat: Rajat Patidar, Glenn Maxwell, Cameron Green, Dinesh Karthik †, Karn

Did not bat: Azmatullah

Omarzai, Rahul Tewatia, Rashid Khan, Sai Kishore, Mohit Sharma, Noor Ahmad

Fall of wickets: 1-6 (Wriddhiman Saha, 0.6 ov), 2-45 (Shubman Gill, 6.4 ov), 3-131 (M

Shahrukh Khan, 14.1 ov) •

DRS

BOWLING O-M-R-W

Swapnil Singh 3-0-23-1

Mohammed Siraj 4-0-34-1

Yash Dayal 4-0-34-0

Glenn Maxwell 3-0-28-1

Karn Sharma 3-0-38-0

Cameron Green 3-0-42-0

Sharma, Mohammed Siraj, Yash Dayal, Swapnil Singh

Fall of wickets: 1-40 (Faf du Plessis, 3.5 ov) • DRS

BOWLING O-M-R-W

Azmatullah Omarzai 2-0-18-0

Sandeep Warrier 1-0-15-0

Sai Kishore 3-0-30-1

Rashid Khan 4-0-51-0

Noor Ahmad 4-0-43-0

Mohit Sharma 2-0-41-0

Jacks cuts loose in the end The only four Jacks had to his credit before the 10th over was a flashy outside edge after not picking Noor's wrong'un. Mohit Sharma's introduction only helped him unleash his full range. He thwacked one over deep midwicket before smacking a slower one over extra cover. He then muscled Sai Kishore and Noor over long-on and deep square leg respectively in successive overs as he moved from a run-a-ball 16 to 44 off 29 inside four overs. He just upped the destruction a level in Mohit's second over, which went for three sixes – including one off a no-ball – and two fours as RCB came within touching distance. Jacks then went 6, 6, 4, 6, 6 to complete his century as well as RCB's third win in 10 outings and a net-run-rate boost.

(ESPNcricinfo)

deceived Wriddhiman Saha by flight, having him caught at short third in an attempt to go inside out.

Virat Kohli and Will Jacks finished things off with 24 balls to spare

Sai Sudharsan went hard in the end

Will Jacks raced to his hundred in a very short time

Faf du Plessis gave Royal Challengers Bengaluru a rapid start

Virat Kohli brought up a quick and confident half-century

Matthews dominates with bat and ball as WI go 2-0 up

Another dominant all-round performance from Hayley Matthews helped West Indies women take a 2-0 series lead against Pakistan in Karachi.

Muneeba Ali had scored a half-century earlier in the evening, but Matthews registered figures of 3 for 25 to stall Pakistan's innings and keep them to a below-par total. She then doubled as match-winner with the bat, too, her 58 off 43 all but ensuring the visitors' chase would be a straightforward one, and that Pakistan would continue to remain winless.

Having missed out on chasing a near-identical score in the first T20 International, Pakistan opted to bat first this time, only to see their innings fall into early peril. Gull Feroza struggled to get the ball off the square in a tortuous 29-ball 14, with Chinelle Henry in particular caus-

ing her considerable trouble. She struck to remove Sidra Ameen early, with the pressure of run-scoring falling onto Muneeba, and as a result, Pakistan limped to a mere 33 in the powerplay.

Muneeba injected some impetus into the innings, but her 47-ball 55 was the only Pakistan effort that went at better than a run a ball. An encouraging third-wicket partnership with Nida Dar was felled at a crucial moment in the 16th over, just as Pakistan may have felt they had the platform to launch at the death. A masterful final over by Matthews saw three wickets fall and just five runs scored as Pakistan's effort ended tamely, the home side hobbling to 121 on a pitch that looked like it offered significantly more.

Matthews aside, though, West Indies never really managed to get on top of the Pakistan bowlers either. The visitors did get off to a fast

SCOREBOARD

Pakistan Women (20 ovs maximum)

Gull Feroza st †Campbelle

b Ramharack 14

Sidra Ameen c Matthews

b Henry 10

Muneeba Ali st †Campbelle

b Matthews 55

Nida Dar (c) c Fraser

b Matthews 13

Aliya Riaz lbw

b Fletcher 8

Ayesha Zafar not out 9

Diana Baig c Henry

b Matthews 2

Najiha Alvi † run out

(Alleyne/Matthews) 1

Extras (b 1, lb 1, nb 1, w 6) 9

TOTAL 20 Ov (RR: 6.05) 121/7

Did not bat: Tuba Hassan, Nashra Sandhu, Sadia Iqbal

Fall of wickets: 1-23 (Sidra Ameen, 3.4 ov), 2-52 (Gull Feroza, 9.4 ov), 3-93 (Nida Dar, 15.3 ov), 4-102 (Aliya Riaz, 16.6 ov), 5-117 (Muneeba Ali, 19.2 ov), 6-119 (Diana Baig, 19.4 ov), 7-121 (Najiha Alvi, 19.6 ov)

BOWLING O-M-R-W

Cherry-Ann Fraser 2-0-13-0

Chinelle Henry 3-0-15-1

Qiana Joseph 4-0-22-0

Matthews

Ramharack

Indies Women (T: 122 runs from 20 ovs)

Joseph c Nashra Sandhu

Diana

start, flying to 38 in the first five, but it was something of a one-woman show, with Matthews striking all five of West Indies' boundaries in this time. When the spin trio of Nashra Sandhu, Tuba Hassan and Nida Dar came on, Pakistan briefly regained some control, with West Indies reduced to scoring at just over six an over for the next six overs.

But it was wickets Pakistan needed, and West Indies were never required to take the risks that gave them a glimpse. By the time Sadia Iqbal prised Matthews out, West Indies needed just 34 to win, and had more than seven overs to do it in.

GABF U23 Championships…

Opening-day wins for Kwakwani

Kwakwani Untouchables and Meadowbrook Nets secured their inaugural win on the opening day of the Guyana Amateur Basketball Federation (GABF) Under-23 Club Championships at the National Gymnasium on Saturday, April 28, 2024, showcasing their shooting skills and jubilant supporters.

The Meadowbrook Nets started their campaign on a high to lead the first quarter against a very strong Stabroek Eagles with the scoreline reading 18-14.

The second quarter saw many shots at the basket, but

score line reading 19-10.

In the second quarter of the game, Kwakwani, playing up to the hype, managed to lower the Trojans’ lead as the scoreline read 32-29.

A struggle ensued in the third quarter, as the Trojans seemed to slow down offensively, scoring 19 points with their total score at 51, while the Kwakwani outfit,

When Shemaine Campbelle was cleaned up by Tuba, there may have been the faintest glimmer of hope for the home side, but the visitors were much too clinical, and had run Pakistan out of road by then. When Chedean Nation sealed the win with a boundary, both sides were going through the motions, and there was a sense of a formality being completed.

The third of five T20Is is on April 30 in Karachi, with a win for West Indies guaranteeing a series victory.

(ESPNcricinfo)

Untouchables and Meadowbrook Nets

still playing at their peak, pounced on the defence and scored 15 points for a total of 44 points.

In the final quarter, the Kwakwani Untouchables sealed the deal as they broke through the Trojans’ defence, scoring 23 points for an overall score of 67 points, while the Trojans were only able to muster 11 points for a final

score of 62.

Kellon Phillips had a team-high 15 points to go with 4 rebounds and 3 assists supported by Royan Shortt, who dropped 14 points with 7 rebounds and 3 assists.

The league is sponsored by Wilson Plumbing Services and General Supplies, and supported by the National Sports Commission (NSC).

the Nets prevailed to extend their lead to 36 at the end of the second quarter despite both teams scoring 18 points each.

The Nets continued to keep their composure and showed their class to as they managed to end the third quarter with the scorecard reading 54-47 in their favour.

Nets’ Shaquille Hescott top-scored for the game with 21 points to go with 6 rebounds and 4 assists, and was supported by his Captain, Peter Langevine, who dropped 15 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists.

In a post-match interview with media operatives, Langevine divulged the key to winning and expressed gratitude to his teammates.

He said , “It was a great game. I would like to thank my superb teammates: they’re a group of phenomenal guys and they brought us to the win. The key was good defence, passing the ball and just executing. Continue practising and look at our mistakes.”

The Nets scored 18 points in that quarter and the Eagles scored 15 points. Meadowbrook Nets went on to secure the win in the final quarter with the scoreline 85-71.

Meanwhile, with their lightning-fast play, the Kwakwani Untouchables managed to pounce on the University of Guyana (UG) Trojans in the second game despite the Trojans forcing a first-quarter lead with the

FL Sport assists Essequibo’s U-13 cricket team

FL Sport has provided financial assistance to the Essequibo Cricket Board (ECB) to prepare its Under-13 squad, which will compete in the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) inter-county tournament.

FL Sport Chief Executive Officer (CEO) John Ramsingh recently handed over $100,000 to ECB Vice President Norwayne Fredricks.

Ramsingh stated, “We at FL Sport are immense lovers of the sport of cricket, and without question, there is overwhelming talent in Cinderella County. Over the years, we have seen talents at the grassroots level who just need some investment.”

Fredricks thanked FL Sport for the support, noting it would undoubtedly help the Board to offset expenses in preparing the team to defend their inter-county title.

The inter-county tourna-

ment is tentatively set for August, and it is understood that the ECB should commence preparations soon.

Most recently, the local streaming company made a financial contribution to the GCB to aid in cricket devel-

opment at the nursery level.

FL Sport has been the go-to company for live streaming, and its productions are seen on www.flsport.gy and the FL Sport channel on the Guyana

Network

The Kwakwani Untouchables U23 Team

The Meadowbrook Nets U23 Team

Essequibo Cricket Board Vice President Norwayne Fredricks (left) collects the financial support from FL Sport Chief Executive Officer John Ramsingh

Hayley Matthews began with a flurry of boundaries

Motie's heroics lead West Indies A to victory over Nepal in thriller

n a thrilling encounter at Kirtipur, Gudakesh Motie emerged as the standout performer for West Indies A, propelling his team to a crucial victory over Nepal in the second T20 International to level the fivematch series at 1-1.

Motie's exceptional allround display, featuring an unbeaten 33 off just eight balls and impactful bowling, played a pivotal role in securing the win.

Batting first, West Indies A faced early setbacks, but rallied behind Andre Fletcher's resilient 43 and Captain Roston Chase's 23. However, wickets fell at regular intervals, leaving the team in a precarious position at 115 for 7. When Fletcher departed, the onus fell on Motie to provide a late surge. With only 13 balls remaining, Motie unleashed a blitz, smashing two fours and four sixes to power his team

to a competitive total of 160 for 7. Matthew Forde contributed with an unbeaten 11 as Sagar Dhakal and Kushal Bhurtel each picked up crucial wickets for Nepal.

In response, Nepal's Captain, Rohit Paudel led the charge with a magnificent 71 off 48 balls, keeping his team in contention. However, Nepal's batting struggled against the West Indies A bowling attack, with only Gulsan Jha offering notable support with 26 runs. Motie continued to make an impact with the ball, claiming 2 crucial wickets for 22 runs alongside Obed McCoy, who showed signs of returning to form with his 2 for 24.

Despite Paudel's heroics, Nepal fell short in their chase, ultimately conceding victory to West Indies A by 10 runs. Motie's exceptional performance earned him the Player-of-theMatch award.

The third match in the series is set for Wednesday, May 1, 2024.

(Sportsmax)

SCOREBOARD

of wickets: 1-17 (Alick

2.2 ov), 2-18 (Johnson Charles, 2.5 ov), 3-64 (Roston Chase, 9.6 ov), 4-79 (Keacy Carty, 13.2 ov), 5-104 (Keemo Paul, 16.1 ov), 6-113 (Hayden Walsh, 17.2 ov), 7-115 (Andre Fletcher, 17.5 ov)

needle 2-time defending champs to take title

Agoal in the second half from the penalty spot was enough for East Bank Gunners to secure a win over two-time defending champions Trafalgar in the final of Guinness “Greatest of the Streets” Berbice Zone on Saturday evening.

Sherwin Nicholson was adjudged Most Valuable Player (MVP) and registered his fourth goal in the twonight tournament, which involved 16 teams to give Gunners the win and receive the $400,000 first prize.

In Saturday night’s final played at the New Amsterdam Basketball Court, the two-time defending champions took their time and created a few opportunities, but could not score despite having over 60 per cent of ball possession. In the dying stages of the first half, East Bank Gunners had a golden opportunity, but could not place the ball where it mattered.

on total defence in the second half, being outplayed by the much-more experienced Trafalgar team but neither team were able to score during regulation time.

A foul in the box by Trafalgar gave East Bank Gunners a golden opportunity. Nicholson took the shot and made no mistake in sending his team into the lead. That goal was all that the game would see.

Earlier, East Bank Gunners earned their spot in the final with a 1-0 win over East Bank Young Guns. It was Nicholson who scored the lone goal in the game.

Trafalgar, however, had to fight much harder to earn their place in the final during their semi-final match-up with Big Ballers.

went

The score was 1-1 at the end of extra and regulation

time. Evlon Fordyce scored for Trafalgar while Evon Smith scored for Big Ballers.

The game was decided from the penalty spot and saw Trafalgar being victorious.

In the play-off for third place, Big Ballers registered a 3-0 win over East Bank Young Guns.

Second-place finisher Trafalgar received $300,000 and third-place finisher Big Ballers $200,000. East Bank Young Guns received $100,000 as the fourth-place finisher.

Sixteen teams took part in the Berbice leg of the tournament.

The national tournament is being sponsored by Banks DIH Ltd under its Guinness brand. Also on board as a sponsor was Colours Boutique of Robb Street.

East Bank Gunners

Champions! East Bank Gunners receive the championship cheque and trophy after defeating Trafalgar to win the Guinness ‘Greatest of the Streets’ Berbice Zone

Gudakesh Motie picked up the Man-of-the-Match Award for his all-round efforts